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An exuberant lover of music, food and family, Dr. Rachael Edino, PhD’20, is one of four recipients of the inaugural Provost’s Postdoctoral Awards for Indigenous and Black Scholars. She’s also an educational researcher in the , currently studying racial gaps in post-secondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in Alberta.

If you could do anything for a living, what would it be? 

I’m happy I embraced teaching as a profession. If I could do anything else for a living, I would be a chef, cooking African meals like jollof and fried rice, pounded yam, egusi and ogbono soup, beans and yam, bitter leaf soup, etc. I enjoy cooking for my family and friends.

When and where were you happiest in your life? 

I’ve been fortunate to have several instances of this. Let me just speak to one. Travelling with my family on a road trip in 2016 from Calgary to Indianapolis and Columbia, Mo., to see family and friends. The first part of the journey, with stops, took 25 hours! The best part was the numerous innocent questions our kids asked as they sketched and wrote down virtually everything they saw on the way. It was an exciting family bonding time. I hope to do it again when all these COVID-19 things start resting permanently in the history books. 

Who or what has had the greatest impact on the person you’ve become? 

My husband, Marcus. He’s always asking me: “What next?” Also, my Auntie Mabel who, when I was a junior high school student, had no money to buy me the latest fashionable things at the time, but she would find a way to afford my school materials, no matter the cost.   

What do you like most about yourself? 

Deliberate interest in work-life balance. I like to work hard, and also enjoy life because life is for the living. I don’t like to over-think things. I don’t focus on the yesterday of my life; rather, I apply the rear-view mirror philosophy to enable me to enjoy the present without repeating the mistakes of the past, while planning for tomorrow. I believe in the power of reflection and time spent in deep appreciation to God and those that helped me to get to where I am today.

If you could travel anywhere you wanted today, where would you go? 

Venice, Italy, to enjoy the view from the San Giorgio Campanile with my husband while enjoying a lovely Italia gelato.I’d also like to visit Scotland again — especially the city of Glasgow, which was the first city I lived, worked, and studied in in the global north. 

Describe the most beautiful place you’ve ever been. 

The natural spring waterfalls called Omache in Agojeju-Ejule, in Kogi State, Nigeria. In its flow and splashes, I get pleasantly lost in the beautiful wonders of nature. 

When you’re restless or unhappy, what do you do to improve your mood? 

Self-reflect and ask myself if the issue deserves to make me restless in the first place. Also, listening to music, either gospel or secular. 

Current guilty pleasure?  

Watching soccer and reality TV shows such as the American and British Got Talent, as well as The Voice and the British series, Paradise.

Who or what in life brings you the most joy?  

My family is the most beautiful and precious gift from God that gives me the most joy, as well as opportunity to impact life positively. 

If a song played whenever you entered a room, what would it be? 

The 1976 highlife song, , by the Cameroonian and Nigerian singer Prince Nico Mbarga and his band, Rocafil Jazz.