91Ů has appointed Dr. Kafui Kouakou as vice provost of experiential education and career development.
“91Ů is thrilled to welcome Dr. Kouakou,” said Kristin Curry Greenwood, PT, DPT, EdD, MS, FNAP, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “A passionate advocate for student success, career readiness, and leadership development, Dr. Kouakou combines strategic vision with operational excellence to create innovative pathways that prepare graduates for meaningful careers.”
Dr. Kouakou joins 91Ů from Quinnipiac University, where he served as assistant vice president for career development and experiential learning. At Quinnipiac, he oversaw the university’s career and experiential education ecosystem and led a major shift from a decentralized career services model to a centrally coordinated framework. The transformation embedded career readiness across academic units and resulted in several high-impact initiatives, including the creation of physical and virtual career and experiential learning labs, a university wide career development map, and expanded employer engagement strategies. He also led Career Week and Career Month programming, implemented new technologies, and developed a comprehensive experiential learning framework to strengthen student outcomes.
Prior to Quinnipiac, Dr. Kouakou served as dean of the School for Public Purpose and Professional Advancement at Albion College, where he provided strategic oversight for multiple experiential learning institutes and centers. During his tenure at Albion, Dr. Kouakou advanced assessment practices, launched new experiential learning programs, and introduced certificates and digital badges that enabled students to clearly demonstrate career-ready skills and competencies.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Kouakou held leadership roles at the City University of New York, where he directed flagship experiential learning programs, including CUNY Cultural Corps and CUNY Service Corps. He also co-managed the Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program in Government and Public Affairs. In addition, he has taught courses in business, economics, mathematics and physical education at several institutions, including the CUNY School for Professional Studies.
Dr. Kouakou earned a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University, where his research focused on experiential learning. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in business administration and mathematics from York College–CUNY and a master’s degree in economics from Brooklyn College.
“Experiential learning is most effective when it is intentionally integrated into the academic experience,” Dr. Kouakou said. “I am excited to join 91Ů and work collaboratively to expand opportunities that help students translate learning into purpose-driven careers.”
Dr. Kouakou will play a key role in expanding experiential education and career development efforts across 91Ů, strengthening alignment between academic programs and evolving workforce needs.