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Texas Southern University Senior Associate Vice President Earns Prestigious Fellowship with American Council on Education

Posted on Friday, February 24, 2023

Dr. Omonike Olaleye

Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation Dr. Omonike Olaleye

Texas Southern University’s Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation and Professor of Pharmacology Dr. Omonike Olaleye has been  named an American Council on Education Fellow (ACE).

The ACE Fellows Program strengthens institutions in American higher education by identifying and preparing faculty, staff and administrators for senior positions in college and university leadership through its distinctive and intensive cohort-based mentorship model.

“Dr. Olaleye is a trailblazing, innovative research scientist and administrator who leads by example and with compassion,” said Dr. Michelle Penn-Marshall, vice president for research and innovation. “During the past 15 years, she has held positions with progressive responsibilities at TSU,” said Dr. Michelle Penn-Marshall, inaugural. “She always serves with distinction and grace. It was truly an honor to nominate a productive and highly regarded colleague for the prestigious ACE Fellowship.  I was ecstatic when I learned of her selection and anxiously await all that she will bring back to TSU as a result of her appointment.”

Recently, Dr. Olaleye’s infectious diseases drug discovery laboratory at TSU revealed and characterized potent clinically approved drugs that are being evaluated for repurposing as potential prophylactic and/or treatment agents in the fight against COVID-19.

With a wealth of administrative and academic leadership experience, outstanding scientific vision and expertise in drug discovery spanning more than 20 years, Dr. Olaleye’s research interest centers on diseases that disproportionately affect underrepresented minorities and/or underserved populations. She joined TSU in 2008 as an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and has since served in multiple capacities, including as interim/assistant dean for Student Services, program director of two federal student training programs, principal investigator on several research grants and more recently as interim associate provost and associate vice president of research.

“I am super grateful to my Lord, Jesus Christ for this great opportunity with the ACE Fellows program and the opportunity to serve alongside brilliant TSU administrators, esteemed colleagues, illustrious staff, excellent students and the amazing TSU community for 15 productive years,” Dr. Omonike Olaleye said. “I have been so blessed to work with a group of highly collaborative, supportive colleagues, mentors and long-standing community partners. I look forward to this new enriching experience in the ACE Fellows program, and I hope to enhance my skills to advance institutional efforts, increase my depth and breadth of higher education, leverage a new professional network and ultimately contribute to the strategic plan required to propel TSU into becoming a Tier 1 - Very High Research Activity University. I am so humbled to have been nominated by Dr. Michelle Penn-Marshall, my brilliant and fantastic role model, the Inaugural Vice-President for Research and Innovation at TSU. I am so blessed to have the full-support of our transformational President Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young, the resilient TSU community and my loving family,” said, ACE Fellow, Dr. Omonike Olaleye.

Dr. Olaleye earned formal training in pharmacology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Harvard University respectively.

The program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations, and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of on-the-job experience and skills development into a single year.  During the placement, Fellows observe and work with the president and other senior officers at their host institutions, attend decision-making meetings, and focus on issues of interest. Fellows also conduct projects of pressing concern for their home institutions and seek to implement their findings upon completion of the fellowship placement.  At the conclusion of the fellowship year, Fellows return to their home institutions with new knowledge and skills that contribute to capacity-building efforts, along with a network of peers across the country and abroad. 

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Last updated: 02/24/2023