Shining Ever Brighter

Born into a family of seven children to two semi-literate parents, life was not perpetually smooth, but somewhat cushioned by the perks and safety net of her father's employment in a multinational mining conglomerate. At age 14, her world was thrown into a free-falling spiral arising from the voluntary retrenchment taken by her father, throwing the family of 9 into an unforeseen instability and untold hardships over the next decade. With an unremitting desire for education and a deep faith in God instilled in them by their mother, Asantewaa and her six siblings fought to stay in school, find a suitable place to lay their head at night and food to put on the table. This is the story of Asantewaa's journey from a life of poverty and need in Accra, Ghana all the way to the miracle of a scholarship to pursue a PhD in Canada and her current position at Michigan State University. This is a story of hardship and persistence, of hunger and kindness, of disappointments and triumph, and an unending trust in God. Dr. Christiana Asantewaa Okyere-Folson is currently a Hegarty Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Michigan State University and a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Scholar. She is also a Mandela Washington Fellow, awarded by the US government for her contribution to improving quality of life of vulnerable populations in African contexts. Dr. Okyere-Folson is an ardent believer who uses her walk with God and life experiences to counsel and empower people to take courageous steps towards achieving their God-given mandate. She co-hosts a YouTube channel (The Folsons Tube) with her beloved husband Kweku Gumye Folson that focuses on topics including faith, education/career, and relationships.