Elsie Effah Kaufmann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elsie Effah Kaufmann
FGA, FBSE, FGhIE, PE
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| Born | 7 September 1969 Accra, Ghana
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| Nationality | Ghanaian |
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| Employer | University of Ghana, Legon |
| Known for | Quiz Mistress for the National Science and Maths Quiz (2006 – present) |
| Awards | Fellow of the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation |
Elsie Akosua Biraa Effah Kaufmann, born on September 7, 1969, is a smart Ghanaian academic and engineer. She is well-known as the host of the exciting National Science and Maths Quiz. This is a popular TV show where students compete in science and math.
In December 2020, Elsie Kaufmann became an associate professor at the University of Ghana. She was also chosen to be the Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences on August 1, 2022. This means she leads the engineering school.
Contents
Early Life and School
Elsie Kaufmann's parents were both teachers. She grew up in Assin, in the Central Region of Ghana. Her father, Yusuf K. Effah, was a headmaster and later a Director of Education.
High School Years
Elsie started her high school education at the Aburi Girls' Senior High School. Later, she earned her International Baccalaureate Diploma in 1988. She got this diploma from the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales.
University Studies
After high school, she went to the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. There, she earned three degrees:
- A Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE).
- A Master of Science in Engineering (MSE).
- A doctorate (PhD) in Bioengineering.
Her Career Journey
Professor Kaufmann has had a very impressive career. She has worked in different roles in education and engineering.
Early Work and Teaching
From 1998 to 2001, she was a research supervisor at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. She also worked as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Pennsylvania.
Later, she became a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana. She was the very first Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering there. She held this position from 2006 to 2012, and again from 2014 to 2016.
Leadership Roles
Elsie Effah Kaufmann is also a visiting scholar. She helped start the Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana. These fields deal with making artificial limbs and braces.
She is a member of the University Council at Ghana Communication Technology University. She also serves on the boards of the African Gifted Foundation Ghana and the British International School-Ghana.
She made history as the first woman to be appointed Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana. She started this role on August 1, 2022. She was also part of the team that helped create the School of Engineering Sciences.
Today, she is the President of the Ghana Society of Biomedical Engineers.
The National Science and Maths Quiz
Professor Kaufmann is most famous for being the host of the Ghana National Science and Maths Quiz. She has been the quiz mistress since 2006. She guides the students through the challenging questions and keeps the show exciting.
Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation
On July 27, 2022, Elsie Kaufmann started her own foundation in Accra. It is called the Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation (EEKF).
Helping Students in STEM
The foundation's main goal is to help students in STEM fields. STEM includes subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math. The foundation wants to give students the tools and chances they need. This way, they can do hands-on research and learn more deeply about these important subjects.
Awards and Special Recognition
Elsie Kaufmann has received many awards for her hard work and contributions.
Top Awards
- She was a Fellow of the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation.
- In 2009, she received the Best Teacher Award for the Sciences from the University of Ghana.
- She received the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation Fellowship in 2011.
- In 2017, she was honored with the Impact Africa Summit Laureate for Education in Ghana.
- She was the first woman to receive the Golden Torch Award for International Academic Leadership in 2018. This award came from the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) in the USA.
- She also received the NSBE's 2018 Golden T.O.R.C.H. (Technical OutReach and Community Help) Award. This was for her excellent support of academics around the world and her dedication to STEM fields.
- In 2022, she was named Woman of the Year at the Exclusive Men of the Year Africa Awards.
Fellowships and Certifications
In June 2022, Kaufmann was elected a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also became a Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in December 2020. She is a Professional Engineer of the Ghana Institution of Engineering. She also holds a PMP Certification from the Institute of Project Management Professionals – Ghana.
Her Family Life
Elsie Kaufmann has three children: two girls and a boy named Augustus Kofi Effah Kaufmann. She also has a younger sister, Belinda Yaa Dankwaa Effah, who works as a bank manager.
