Department of History, Philosophy & Psychology

Bio

Dr. Grace A. Fayombo holds a Ph.D. in Counselling and Developmental Psychology and brings a wealth of experience in teaching and research. Dr. Fayombo began her career as a Secondary School English Teacher (1989–1999) before transitioning into academia. From 1999 to 2008, she was a Lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations and Counselling at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria, where she was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2005. In 2008, Dr. Fayombo joined The UWI, Cave Hill Campus, where she is currently based in the Department of History, Philosophy, and Psychology. Her research and teaching interests focus on developmental psychology, with a commitment to fostering critical thinking and student engagement in the field.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. Guidance Counselling & Developmental PsychologyUniversity of Ibadan, Nigeria, 1998
• M.Ed. Guidance & Counselling, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 1987
• B.Ed. English and Guidance & Counselling, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 1986

Other Qualifications

• Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, 2016.

Research Areas

Dr Grace Fayombo is interested in studying adolescents’ developmental problems like alcoholism, substance abuse and the intervention programs. Other areas include emotional intelligence, psychological resilience and personality traits vital for adolescents’ successful transition to adulthood stage. Her findings on Nigerian and Caribbean students’ absenteeism from lectures informed her interest in studying active learning strategies and students’ learning. Recently, Dr Fayombo explored risk of marginalization for Barbadian children with special needs and students’ learning experiences, motivation and self-efficacy cross culturally during COVID-19. Generally, there is dearth of literature in the Psychology of African-Caribbean people, hence, Dr. Fayombo is making a valuable contribution to research in this area.

Teaching Areas

Undergraduate:

• PSYC1012 – Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology
• PSYC2009 – Psychology of Learning: From Theory to Practice
• PSYC2020 – Psychopathology & Well-being
• PSYC2022 – Psychology of Conception to Adolescence
• PSYC2009 – Psychology of Learning: From Theory to Practice
• PSYC3020 – Educational Psychology
• PSYC3032 – Psychology of Emerging Adulthood and Ageing
• PSYC3011 – Capstone Research Project in Psychology (Psychology Special & Major)
• PSYC3016 – Psychology Research Proposal (Psychology Minors only)

Publications

 

• Blackman, S.N.J., Fayombo, G.A and Junnie O. Lynch (2022). Principals’ narratives on the risk of marginalization for Barbadian children with special needs during COVID-19. In S.N.J. Blackman, (Ed.) Equitable Education for Marginalized Youth in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Pp. 128 -156). ISBN 9780429276866. Published by Routledge.
• Fayombo, G.A. (2016). Active learning strategies and students’ learning outcomes: The pedagogical implications for fostering nationhood and national consciousness among Nigerian students. Journal of Educational Focus, 8, 406 – 426. Institute of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria.
• Fayombo, G.A. (2015).  Teaching strategies, learning styles and academic achievement among some undergraduate psychology students in Barbados. Caribbean Educational Research Journal, 3(2), 46-65.
• Maynard, D. B. and Fayombo, G.A. (2015). influence of parental employment status on Caribbean adolescents’ self-esteem. International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology, 2(1&3), 123-129.
• Fayombo, G. A. (2014). Promoting student engagement and learning outcomes in Psychology through technology infused learner-centred strategies. In Veiga, F. (Coord.) Students’ Engagement in School: International Perspectives of Psychology and Education, Lisboa (pp. 687 -703). ISBN: 978-989-98314-8-3.
• Fayombo, G.A. (2012). Relating emotional intelligence to academic achievement among some university students in Barbados. The International Journal of Emotional Education, 4(2), 43-54.
• Fayombo, G.A., Babalola, B.J., Olaleye, Y.L. (2012). Cross institutional study of the causes of absenteeism among the university students in Barbados and Nigeria. Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 2(1), 122-136. doi:10.5539/jedp.v2n1p122.

Additional Info

Accomplishments include:

Principal’s Award for Excellence Recipient in the Category Academic in recognition of Outstanding Teaching at UWI Cave Hill in December 2013.
Award for Excellence in Academic Leadership in recognition of dynamic contributions and selfless services to research, teaching and learning by African Association for Teaching and Learning during the International Conference on Teaching and Learning (ICTL) held in Nigeria, October 2012.
University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus Barbados 90 Scientists Rankings – 2025, AD Scientific Index 2025 Ranking.
Dr. Fayombo is ranked 39th (institutional ranking) and 41st (country rank). https://www.adscientificindex.com/h-index-rankings/?s=25&university=University+of+the+West+Indies+Cave+Hill+Campus+Barbados p.2

Keywords

Developmental psychology, adolescence,  active learning strategies, student engagement, student learning outcomes, substance and alcohol abuse,  academic achievement,  emotional intelligence, psychological resilience, student absenteeism,  parental types, parenting styles, self-esteem, self-concept, study habits