PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (June 2, 2020) – Ten years ago, Janet Antwi boarded a one-way flight from Ghana to the U.S. to accomplish her dream of pursuing knowledge, gaining skills, and achieving high-level professional experience.
Janet Antwi, BPharm, MS, PhD, RD
“I wanted the quality and rigor that this country’s educational opportunities provide, and I hoped to serve as a role model for other minority students that they can also succeed,” Antwi said. “My love and enthusiasm for seeking knowledge and sharing what I obtain with others forms the basis of my desire to teach. Also, the joy of seeing students obtain competencies and achieve their purpose, both in my classes or through building their careers, is incredibly fulfilling.”
Antwi, who joined Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) in January 2019, serves as an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics. Her interest in minority student education and excellence drew her to PVAMU.
“I wanted to support an underserved population to take advantage of opportunities and build careers to solve the major issues that face our society, which are in line with the core values of PVAMU’s strategic plan,” Antwi said. “I was also attracted to the mission and vision of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, as its land-grant status offers several opportunities for collaboration and grant seeking, aligning with my research agenda.”
Antwi’s research interests include nutrition and physical activity in obesity for low-income and underserved populations; Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome; the impact of dietary supplements and antioxidant compounds on HIV disease progression; and international nutrition and health in community and clinical settings.
“My goal is to instill and get the best out of my students — professionally, intellectually, and morally,” she said. “I hope my students realize that learning is a lifetime achievement and that they feel safe to learn and share ideas with confidence so they can excel. It is important to me that students gain curiosity and take ownership of their learning to gain a deeper understanding of the content.”
Antwi says her favorite part of teaching is engaging students in hands-on experiences through activities, such as a flip classroom and student-led active learning.
“It brings out the “aha” moment and excitement in them because they are able to better comprehend the concept from the theory you taught them,” she said. “I employ an active learning approach in the classroom to help students deliberately take ownership of their learning instead of just passively receiving it. In a nutshell, control over learning resides with the student, but it’s up to the professor to create an environment that guides students through active learning.”
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By Kendall Hebert