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Andrea Benjamin

Academic Life Coaching, The University of Oklahoma website wordmark
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Andrea Benjamin
Associate Professor
OU Clara Luper Department of African American Studies

Andrea's Coaching Mindset: "I believe coaching is the opportunity to let a client navigate their own lives in a way that is meaningful to them."

Higher Education Background:

  • Bachelor's- Political Science, UC Davis.
  • Master's- African American Studies, UC Davis.
  • PhD- Political Science, University of Michigan.

Interests and Hobbies:

  • Reading.
  • Podcasts (Bodega Boys, The Read, anything true crime).
  • Hanging out with my cat: Blake Griffin.
  • Going on vacation (I love St. Lucia).

Top Life Defining Moments in Higher Education:

  • A professor saw something special in me and was willing to mentor me towards the Ph.D.
  • Each semester I learn so much from my students. It makes me happy that learning can go both ways.
  • The students are the very best part of this job. I am lucky to get to share my classroom with them.

While in college, I experienced:

  • Balancing work and school.
  • Having no sense of belonging.
  • Financial Stress.
  • Being a first-generation college student.
  • Homesickness.