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Next up in our 2020 Incoming Grad Series is Christabel Agyeiwaa, who is entering the PhD program in History. Learn more about Christabel's life in Ghana, how she fell in love with the study of history, and her passion for cooking and dance!
The 2020 Incoming Grad Series continues, featuring backstories and fun facts about 8 students who are part of the entering class at UCSB.
Christabel Agyeiwaa comes to UCSB from Ghana, where she completed a Master's degree at the University of Ghana. She is entering the PhD program in History, where she will study women's contributions to the socio-economic development of Africa over time. Read on to learn more about her childhood growing up in a rural Ghanaian village, why she chose UCSB, her love of dance, and some surprising fun facts!
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THE STORYChristabel spent part of her childhood in the small village of Dormaa-Akwamu in the Bono region of Ghana and the rest of her life in the huge city of Accra, Ghana. She says that life in the village was characterized by evening storytelling led by elders in her family. Hearing these interesting stories gradually stimulated her interest in learning more about the past, and so she decided to study history. She majored in history at the undergraduate level and then did a Master's degree in history at the University of Ghana. Christabel tells us she is proud to be a young Ghanaian woman whose life has been shaped by the beautiful traditions and culture of Ghana and that she is excited to start this new chapter at UCSB.
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WHY UCSBChristabel chose UCSB due to its excellent reputation for historical research. She admires its extensive library and archival resources, as well as its commitment to improving the world through outstanding research and scholarship. Christabel was also attracted to the diverse range of scholarly topics covered in the History department, as well as its diverse faculty and graduate student body. She loves the beautiful scenery in Santa Barbara and hopes that studying in such a picturesque place will make her journey as a Ph.D. student rich and memorable. |
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RESEARCH INTERESTSChristabel is interested in the history of women and gender, particularly within the African context. She loves exploring the key roles women played in Africa's historical events. At UCSB, she intends to focus her research on women within the retail sector of the African economy, as well as their contributions to the socio-economic development of Africa over time. |
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FUN FACTSChristabel loves cooking and spends her weekends in the kitchen making Ghanaian dishes. She doesn't have any pets, but really enjoys being around children. In the past, she has taught classes to children at school and at church. She says she is an introvert who loves spending time alone on the beach, but also enjoys quality time with friends. Christabel is also a skilled dancer. She told us she started dancing when she was ten years old and still dances whenever she can. However, she has never been to a night club! |
Welcome, Christabel!
Be sure to subscribe to the GradPost and check back each day until the start of classes for the continuation of our Incoming Grad Series. Up next is Jackie Chin, an incoming PhD student in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology who is coming to UCSB from Maryland. Jackie is passionate about intervention research to improve mental health outcomes among Black and POC queer folks. Check back tomorrow to learn more about her research, why she loved Howard University, and her many hobbies!