Dr Nina Powell, Senior Lecturer, NUS Psychology | EDUCATORS

Educator: Dr Nina Laurel Powell (NUS Psychology)

Dr Nina Powell has a Ph.D. in the psychology of human behaviour and decision-making (Social and Cognitive Developmental Psychology). She has more than 10 years of experience in grant and research publication writing and reviewing, and consultation for best approaches to assessing and measuring human behaviour and decision-making with respect to cognition, emotion and behaviour modification. Dr Powell is also the winner of multiple awards for her work as educator at NUS Psychology, and her accolades include a series of five Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards (2017 through 2021), Special Teaching Award for Innovation in 2018 at the NUSFaculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and a FASS Inspiring Mentor Award in 2021 (along with our host Associate Professor Robin Loon).

Key points in this episode, hosted by Associate Professor Robin Loon (NUS English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies):-

0:00 Dr Nina Powell's start as a University Educator, and her circuitous route to University Education and understanding the value of a University Education

13:55 On Moral Psychology and helping students see purpose and their capacity to influence through an education of being human.

27:37 Her belief in Human Exceptionalism and her classroom being a space of play by embracing discomfort and helping students understanding the value of what they are doing.

42.38 Making agency the focus of study and activating student agency by encouraging student to be present and through reflective assessments.

58:39 The importance of the reflective educator, and refocusing on the human through research on Artificial Intelligence and agency.

1:10:53 Wish list for the future and how the educator can contribute to advancing University Education.