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Comfort O Okpala

Professor

Comfort O Okpala
Google Scholar

College
College of Education

Department
Leadership Studies & Adult Ed

Contact
Proctor Hall 140
Education
EDDEducational Leadership / Fayetteville State University
MBABusiness Administration / Governors State University
B.S.Business Administration Accounting / Roosevelt University

Bio

Dr. Comfort Okpala is a professor of leadership studies in the Department of Leadership Studies and Adult Education, College of Education at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC. She served as the Chair for the department for more than five years. She also served as the Assistant Dean for Assessment and Research in the College of Education for two years. Dr. Okpala received her doctorate degree in educational leadership with a minor in research from Fayetteville State University in 1998. She received a master’s in business administration in 1982 Governor’s State University in Illinois. She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Roosevelt University in 1981. She received a Certificate for program evaluation and assessment from The EVAP Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill. She also received a Certificate on Evidence-Based Coaching from Fielding Graduate University.

Research Interests

Dr. Okpala's research agenda is grounded in leadership studies, STEM leadership, global leadership issues, policy, finance, social justice, resource equity, and African Studies. Dr. Okpala has over sixty research articles in a variety of refereed journals like the Journal of Value-Based Leadership, International Business and Economics Research Journal, International Journal of Education and Social Science, International Journal of Business and Social Science, Journal of Continuing Higher Education, Journal of Early Childhood Education, Journal of Education Finance, Journal of Educational Researcher, Urban Education and others. Her published articles have received over twelve hundred citations by national and international scholars and researchers according to Google Scholar.

Recent Publications

  • Comfort Okpala (2023). (Exploring subordinates’ perceptions and experiences with abusive leaders in higher education: A qualitative study. ). (42) 16, pp. 35-40. Journal of Leadership Studies.
  • Dima Jamali, Comfort Okpala, Salish Allard-Blaisdell, Giftie Umo, Cam Caldwell (2023). (Virtuous leadership: Insights from the example of Joseph ). (1) 12, pp. 57-70. Journal of Business Administration Research.
  • Cam Caldwell, Comfort Okpala (2022). (Leading with passion- what it means, why it matters.). (2) 15, pp. 26. Journal of Value-Based Leadership.
  • Evelyn Leathers, Comfort Okpala (2020). (An exploration of perceptions of institutional advancement leaders on their role in the survival of HBCUs: A qualitative study). (2) 5, pp. 1247-1255. Journal of Research Initiative.
  • Comfort Okpala, Cam Caldwell, (2019). (Humility, forgiveness, and love: The heart of ethical leadership). (2) 12, pp. 10-15. Journal of Value-Based Leadership.
  • Kelly Mack, Orlando Taylor, Camille McKayle, Byrd Goldie, Charles McClintock, Melvin Hall, Margaret Kanipes-Spinks, Comfort Okpala, Kate Winter, Maria Qadri (2019). (Tone Begins at the Top: Broadening Participation in STEM Higher Education). (1/2) 21, pp. 3-4. Peer Review.
  • Comfort Okpala, Kimberly Walker (2018). (An exemplary leader in higher). In Okpala and Walker, (Improving the viability and perceptions of HBCUs) pp. 1-9.
  • Comfort Okpala, Kimberly Walker (2018). (Improving the viability and perceptions of HBCUs). In Okpala and Walker,
  • Kimberly Young-Walker, Comfort Okpala (2017). (Exploring community college students' transfer experiences and perceptions and what they believe administration can do to improve their experiences). (1) 65, pp. 35-44. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education.
  • Comfort Okpala, Okpala Amon (2017). (Factors that impact health career decisions of second generation Nigerian students). (11) 8, pp. 4-10. International Journal of Business and Social Science.
  • Comfort Okpala, Boston , Lewis (2017). (How are we developing student leaders? A qualitative examination of peer-to-peer program at a historically Black university.). (4) 4, pp. 50-55. Journal of Education and Social Policy.
  • Amon Okpala, Comfort Okpala (2017). (Index of economic freedom, religion, and female literacy in sub-Saharan Africa). (4) 3, pp. 33-36. The Journal of Social Sciences Research.
  • Nadielka Bishop, Comfort Okpala, Cecil Campbell, , (2017). (Staying in focus: Research self-efficacy and mentoring amon HBCU professional doctorates). In Boykin, Hilton, & Palmer, (Chapter in a book) pp. Chapter 6. RouthledgeChapter 6.
  • LaShanda Hague, Comfort Okpala, (2017). (Voices of African American women leaders on factors that impact their career advancement in North Carolina community colleges). (3) 2, pp. 1-9. Journal of Research Initiative.
  • Comfort Okpala, Evelyn Leathers, (2016). (In their own words: Exploring the leadership experiences and challenges faced by African American women scholars in higher education). (Written in Her own Voice: Auto-ethno-edu Biographies of Women in (Higher) Education. Volume I) 1, Peter Lang.
  • Dalton Dockery, Comfort Okpala (2016). (The experiences of African-American males in academic leadership positions at public predominantly White institutions in North Carolina). (2) 2, pp. 1-6. Journal of Research Initiative.
  • Kimberly Jones-Goods, Comfort Okpala (2015). (Stakeholders' perception of culturally responsive leadership in a K-12 public charter school in North Carolina.). In Dr. Linda Wilson-Jones, (3) 1, pp. 1-11. Journal of Research Initiatives.
  • Kimberly Jones-Goods, Comfort Okpala (2015). (Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Culturally Responsive Leadership in a K-12 Public Charter School). (3) 1, pp. 3. Journal of Research Initiatives.
  • Ioney James, Comfort Okpala (2015). (The Educational Implications of a trans-global service learning project in Jamaica: A Qualitatie Analysis). (9) 2, pp. 7. Journal of Education and Social Science.
  • Comfort Okpala, Amon Okpala (2014). (Cooperative learning structures: Catalyst for effective learning for adult learners in higher education). (4) 7, pp. 53-61. Contemporary Issues in Education Research .
  • Amos Okpala, Comfort Okpala (2014). (The role of school life expectancy and urbanization on adult literacy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa). (2) 13, pp. 329-342. International Business and Economics Research Journal .
  • Comfort Okpala, Amon Okpala (2013). (A phenomenological study of African-born professors in higher education: A focus on historically Black colleges and universities). In Uwakweh, Rotich & Okpala, (Engaging the diaspora: Migration and African families) pp. 105-114. Lexington Books Publishers.
  • Pauline Uwakweh, JERONO ROTICH, Comfort Okpala (2013). (Engaging the Diaspora Migration and African Families. ). 1, Lexington Books, 2013. .
  • Comfort Okpala, Linda Hopson (2013). (Mentoring and socialization experiences of faculty in higher education). (1) 1, pp. 59-63. Journal of Urban Education: Focus on Enrichment.
  • Abul Pitre, Comfort Okpala (2013). (The African experience and critical leadership studies Book Seires). Lexington Books Publishers.
  • Comfort Okpala, Linda Hopson, Bernadine Chapman, Edward Fort (2011). (Leadership development expertise: A mixed-method analysis). (2) 38, pp. 133-137. Journal of Instructional Psychology.
  • Comfort Okpala, Linda Hopson, Amon Okpala (2011). (The Impact of the current economic crisis on community colleges). (4) 45, pp. 214-216. College Student Journal.
  • Comfort Okpala, Linda Hopson, Edward Fort, Bernadine Chapman (2010). (Online preparation of adult learners in post-secondary education). (5) 7, pp. 31 - 36. Journal of College Teaching & Learning.
  • Ioney James, Comfort Okpala (2010). (The use of metacognitive scaffolding to improve college students academic success). (11) 7, pp. 47-49. Journal of College Teaching & Learning.
  • Comfort Okpala (2009). (An examination of the impact of selected teacher variables on student achievement). (2) 7, pp. 1-11. Georgia Educational Researcher.
  • Comfort Okpala, Leon Sturdivant, Linda Hopson (2009). (Assessment of the impact of dervice learning on academic growth of college students). (4) 6, pp. 65 - 68. Journal of College Teaching & Learning.
  • Amon Okpala, Comfort Okpala (2009). (Economics and religious implications on adult literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa). In Ronald Clute, (1) 25, pp. 83 - 90.. The Journal of Applied Business Research.
  • Comfort Okpala (2009). (Implications of severe economic decline and demograpghic pressures on youth literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa). (2) 2, pp. 29 - 32. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education Research.
  • Comfort Okpala, Ioney James, Linda Hopson (2009). (The effectiveness of national board certified teachers: Policy implications.). (1) 36, pp. 29 - 34.. Journal of Instructional Psychology.
  • Comfort Okpala, Jerono Rotich, J. Ardley (2009). (Voices of preservice teachers on teacher quality components in urban schools). (2) 78, pp. 135-145. The Journal of Negro Education.
  • Comfort Okpala, Jerono Rotich, J. Ardley (2009). (Voices of preservice teachers on teacher quality components in urban schools). (2) 78, pp. 135-145. The Journal of Negro Education.
  • Comfort Okpala, G. Bell, K. Tuprah (2007). (A comparative study of student achievement in traditional and schools of choice in North Carolina). (4) 42, pp. 313 - 325.. Urban Education.
  • Comfort Okpala (2007). (The perceptions of kindergarten teachers on retaintion.). (4) 21, pp. 400-405.. Journal of Research in Childhood Education.
  • Amon Okpala, Comfort Okpala (2006). (The effects of public school expenditure and parental education on youth literacy in sub-Saharan Africa). In Harold Isaacs, (2) XXIII, pp. 203 - 212. Journal of Third World Studies.
  • Amon Okpala, Comfort Okpala (2005). (Business students' perceptions of the impact of teaching practices and teacher qualifications on teacher quality). In Ronald Clute, (11) 2, pp. 31 - 38. Journal of College Teaching & Learning.
  • Comfort Okpala, Richard Ellis (2005). (The perceptions of college students on teaching quality: A focus on teacher qualifications). (2) 125, pp. 374-383.. Education.
  • Amon Okpala, Comfort Okpala (2004). (An analysis of the effectiveness of web-enhanced learning in higher education). In Leslie Nunn, (Readings in Teaching & Learning) pp. 101 - 106..
  • Richard Ellis, Comfort Okpala (2004). (Evaluation of digital technology and software use among business education teachers). (1) 31, pp. 53 - 59.. Journal of Instructional Psychology.
  • Comfort Okpala (2004). (Teacher characteristics and student retention policy: Implications for teacher education institutions.). In Leslie Nunn, (Readings in Teaching & Learning) pp. 95-100..
  • Comfort Okpala, (2002). (Educational resources, student demographics and achievement scores). (3) 27, pp. 885 - 907. Journal of Education Finance.
  • Comfort Okpala, Amon Okpala, Frederick Smith (2001). (Parental involvement, instructional expenditures, family socioeconomic attributes, and student achievement.). (2) 95, pp. 110 - 115.. Journal of Educationa Research.
  • Amon Okpala, Comfort Okpala, Richard Ellis (2000). (Academic efforts and study habits among students in a principles of macroeconomics course.). (4) 75, pp. 219 - 224. Journal of Education for Business.
  • Comfort Okpala, Frederick Smith, Enid Jones, Richard Ellis (2000). (A clear link betwen school and teacher characteristics, student demographics and student achievement). (3) 120, pp. 487 - 494. Education.
  • Comfort Okpala (1998). (Overview of cultural diversity in elementary schools). (2) 8, pp. 37 - 51. Education Issues.
  • Amon Okpala, Comfort Okpala (1997). (Faculty adoption of educational technologies in higher learning). In George Uhlig, (4) 24, pp. 262 - 267. Journal of Instructional Psychology.
  • Comfort Okpala (1996). (Gender-related differences in classroom interaction). In George Uhlig, (4) 23, pp. 275 - 285. Journal of Instructional Psychology.