Humphrey Chinenye Ochulor

I was the principal of Jesus Cares Academy (middle and high schools), Port Harcourt, Nigeria (2010 to 2012), where I supervised the activities of the teachers and the students. From 2012 to 2023, I was a mathematics and computer science lecturer at the Federal School of Statistics (a polytechnic), Enugu, Nigeria. In the same school, I served as the Director/Dean of Student Affairs from 2016 to 2019. My duties included reading, interpreting, and reviewing the Student Union Government (SUG) rules and regulations, enabling the students to abide by them while achieving their academic and professional goals. At the same time, I functioned as the secretary to the Staff Disciplinary Committee (SDC) at the school. From 2019 to 2023, I was appointed Director of Academic Planning at the same school. My duties were (i) allocating courses to and preparing the lecture and exam timetable for all the departments, (ii) supervision of the Student Industrial Work Experience (SIWES), and (iii) computation of the students' results (GPA). Presently, I am a member of the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) Grant Writing Team in Mathematics Education at Purdue University, a member and researcher in the Purdue University Girls Excelling in Mathematics and Science (GEMS) Club, and a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi through a nomination by the chapter at Purdue University. I am a Dean's Doctoral Research Assistant under the supervision of Professor Signe Kastberg. I also am the Project Manager on an EPICS Project team called "Green Energy Innovation as a Framework for Integrated STEM Education," aimed at delivering STEM learning kits (solar car and wind turbine) to the Bauer Youth Development Program in Lafayette, Indiana.

+ Education

+ Awards & Honors

+ Professional Affiliations/Memberships

My research centers on innovative approaches to mathematics education through design-based learning, with a focus on enhancing student motivation, engagement, and conceptual understanding. I explore the role of hands-on STEM activities in developing proportional reasoning and spatio-visual thinking, particularly in middle and secondary mathematics classrooms. My work is guided by the Triadic Model of Motivation, which I developed to analyze affective, cognitive, and socio-cultural engagement in algebra instruction. I am also investigating the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting motivation and learning in mathematics education. I have published on topics such as Innovative STEM Learning through Solar Oven Design and Spatio-Visual Reasoning through Hands-On STEM Construction Activities, and have presented my research at several conferences, including ICTM, AGSERS, and IMERS. My work aims to bridge theory and classroom practice by integrating STEM design challenges into mathematics instruction to support creativity, teamwork, conceptual understanding, and equity in learning.

+ Selected Publications

+ Current Grants & Funded Research

• MATH 112 (Functions and Geometry)
• MATH 121 (Calculus 1)
• MATH 212 (Calculus 2)
• COMP 101 (Introduction to Computing)
• COMP 222 (Cooperative Computer-Internet)
• BAMD 112 (Business Mathematics 1)
• BAMD 122 (Business Mathematics 2)

Mathematical games, motivation, proportional reasoning (ratios, equivalent ratios, and unit ratios) to linearity, and STEM-based mathematics teaching and learning.