Katheleen Amaefule, visiting scholar in sport management and administration from Nigeria, is spending the fall semester at West Virginia University. Amaefule is one of eight visiting scholars on campus, hosted by the West Virginia Council of International Programs. WVCIP, a professional development program, fosters training and work related opportunities with cross-cultural and multidisciplinary dimension.
Amaefule holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in sports science from Olabisi Onabanjo University and a master’s degree in sport management from Ahmadu Bello University. Amaefule is a member of various council and associations.
“I have worked with athletes for some time now and have discovered that those taking care of them also need to be managed to get good results. Specifically, I want to carry out a research on the perceived influence of organizational behavior and leadership styles on job commitment of sports administrators in Nigeria,” she explained.
Amaefule plans to expand her knowledge and experience. She credits Dr. Floyd Jones, associate professor, CPASS sport management, as her mentor. “Dr. Jones has helped me with every step on my way. Everything I do, I ask for his advice,” she explained.
“I want to learn more on research methodology, for example, research designs, sampling and sampling techniques and statistical methods and analysis,“ Amaefule added.
Amaefule hopes to gather what she learns at WVU to implement changes at home. In addition to Amaefule, WVCIP is hosting professionals from Brazil, China, Indonesia, Germany and another from Nigeria. The students are placed in positions that broaden their understanding of American culture while expanding career training and professional development.
“I want to see the physical education/sports management curriculum in WVU and to compare and see what I can recommend for my university,” Amaefule concluded.
Back home, Amaefule lectures in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Amaefule is a member of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance, the Nigerian School Health Association, the Nigerian Association of Women in Sports and the Nigerian Institute of Management. To learn more about WVCIP, visit their web page, http://international.wvu.edu/cip.