Photo - Francis MustaphaFrancis Mustapha
1994 Inductee

Francis Kemba Mustapha was born in Medina, a small village in Sierra Leone, West Africa. His pursuit of education led him to a neighboring village, a mission boarding school and eventually to America, where he received a Bachelor's degree in biology from Indiana Wesleyan University and Masters and Educational Specialist degrees from Indiana University. He and his American wife returned to West Africa in 1979 to teach in two teacher training schools in Liberia and Sierra Leone until economic, political and medical situations there brought the family back to America in 1983. War since 1990 has destroyed both training institutions, and in 1995, Mustapha's own home village. Since 1983, Francis has been a biology teacher in the Fort Wayne Community Schools. He was granted U.S. citizenship in July of 1992. In the fall of 1995 he began doctoral studies at Indiana University.

Special Honors

1994

Fort Wayne Community Schools Teacher of the Year

1994

Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award

1994

National Teacher of the Year finalist

1994

Distinguished Alumni Award, Indiana University School of Education

1994

Outstanding Alumni Award in Education, Indiana Wesleyan University

1993

Excellence in Education Award

1991-93

Fellowships from the National Institute of Health and the American Society of Cell Biology