Mopinre Akinola-Olabanji

My name is Mopinre but I prefer to be called Mo. I am a first-year PhD student in Educational Studies with a specialization in Special Education. My research focuses on inclusive education and supporting learners with special needs, particularly in areas of emotional and behavioral disorders, early intervention, and assistive technology. I am particularly interested in exploring how Artificial Intelligence can be integrated into the pedagogy of students affected by trauma, including experiences of domestic violence, homelessness, war and displacement, terrorism, and other forms of violence. Before joining Purdue, I worked as a Domestic Abuse Advice and Well-being Worker at Birmingham and Solihull Women's Aid in the UK, supporting victims of domestic abuse. I also hold a master’s degree in Education, Inclusion, and Special Needs from the University of Hull, UK. Prior to my studies in the UK, I served as a Project Officer for Gender and Vulnerable Groups on a World Bank–funded initiative in Nigeria, where I supported marginalized women and children to access basic infrastructures.

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For my master’s dissertation, I explored how education can help reduce women’s marginalization in Northern Nigeria, while also comparing findings from Ghana and the UK. For my PhD, my research will focus on inclusive education and supporting learners with special needs, particularly in areas of emotional and behavioral disorders, early intervention, and assistive technology. I am particularly interested in exploring how Artificial Intelligence can be integrated into the pedagogy of students affected by trauma, including experiences of domestic violence, homelessness, war and displacement, terrorism, and other forms of violence.