Ambe is a natural coach and mentor. She cares deeply about her clients, enough that she holds them accountable to achieve their goals. She challenges, supports, cajoles, comforts, lifts up, and sometimes – when needed – you’ll get that little eyebrow lift that says ‘do you really believe what you are telling me right now.
The Iowa West Foundation engaged Dr. Ambe The Consultant to lead the third cohort of our Women of Color leadership program in 2024/2025. She took the participants to new levels of confidence and helped them chart pathways to be leaders in their communities.

As a leadership consultant, she achieves the remarkable balance of being a coach, a mentor and a friend to those who work with her. Her extensive background in educational leadership and counseling provide the professional credentials. Her character and heart are the reason she is so very good at the role.

I had the distinct pleasure of studying under Prof. Ambe’ in the Cohort for Human Resource Management through Bellevue University. Ambe’ was the most engaged and knowledgeable instructor that I studied under during my college career. I greatly enjoyed and benefited from her experiences, expertise, and knowledge of the Human Resources field of study, both through Bellevue University and Iowa Western Community College. Ambe’ brought interest and real life examples to the lectures that afforded her students a look into the real world of HR. I continue to look to Ambe’ as a mentor as I embark on my HR journey.

I have worked for several supervisors over the years in a variety of positions. I found that the best ones embody several different characteristics: The ability to allow their people the autonomy to be engaged and creative. The ability to trust, but the courage to hold people accountable. The ability to communicate effectively, but not micromanage. The most important ability is integrity. If I trust the supervisor to do the right thing, I will trust the information they are presenting.

Ambe has all these abilities and more. She is a bold personality that leads with integrity. She is engaged in her work and with her staff. She frequently walks the halls and just checks in without seeming to be trying to “catch” people. She provides constructive feedback when necessary and praise when warranted. She provides information and support when asked. She understands the busy lives her staff leads, and shows flexibility, but still requires accountability. I am proud call her “Boss.”  

Finally, Ambe is an amazing asset to this College. She is invested in so many areas of the College; I would have difficulty listing them all. Her background here makes her an invaluable resource with knowledge of student services and administration. She is constantly encouraging student engagement and diversity. She also is taking the time to increase her knowledge through advanced education. She embodies the life long learner that we should all strive to be.

Dr. Ambe is a teacher par excellence. She is filled with energy and transcends her positivity through her lectures. She makes even the dullest topic interesting. She keeps the class alive with her immense knowledge and her sparkling sense of humor. She is also inspiring and motivating who makes everyone identify their strengths and succeed. She is passionate about teaching and that reflects in the spectacular energy that she brings to the class. Confucius once mentioned, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. That’s exactly how teaching is for her.