Talks on Tap: Yetunde Odugbesan-Omede, Ph.D.
Yetunde Odugbesan-Omede, Ph.D., is currently the Acting Director of the Office of Community and Civic Engagement and Professor of Global Affairs and Politics at Farmingdale State College (FSC). At FSC, she is responsible for overseeing all institutional-wide initiatives that fosters campus-community collaboration by engaging the university’s academic resources in the enrichment of civic and community life. Dr. Yetunde creates community engagement efforts through a range of activities that promote social action, faculty scholarship and service, student leadership, and developing strategic local and global partnerships. As a faculty member in the History, Politics and Geogrpahy department, Dr. Yetunde teaches courses on Comparative Politics, Women in Comparative Political Development, Imperialism, Global Politics, African Politics, American Foreign Policy and others. She is a pracademic who has extensive practitioner and academic based experience in global affairs, higher education and human capital development.
Dr. Yetunde brings a strong track record in leadership, strategic and organizational management, and a progressive approach to international development, democracy building and policy advocacy. Dr. Yetunde's area of research expertise is in corruption studies, human security and good governance. She was recently awarded a four year tenure as a Fulbright Specialist Scholar in the Fulbright Program under the U.S. Department of State. As a recognition of her contribution and impact in the field of higher education, civic and community engagement and global affairs, Dr. Yetunde was inducted into Rutgers University African-American Hall of Fame Class of 2021. In addition, her work thus far has been inscribed on a paver at Rutgers University Paul Robeson Plaza, a historic tribute to Rutgers most distinguished alumnus. She was recently given an award by the Nigerian Consulate in New York for her exceptional service and exemplary leadership in the United States. Dr. Yetunde previously worked at United Nations Population Fund, Executive Board and External Relations division, Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration, New Jersey State Ethics Commission, Rutgers Insitute for Anti-Corruption Studies amongst others.
Dr. Yetunde's interest in global ethics, good governance, human rights, gender equality, and diplomacy has influenced her academic scholarship and professional endeavors. She, received her Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Global Affairs and her Masters of Science in Global Affairs with a concentration in International Law from Rutgers University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies with a double minor in Africana Studies and Organizational Leadership from Rutgers University as well. She received her certification in U.S. Public Policy: Social, Economic, and Foreign Policies from Harvard University. She also has certificates in international relations, international business, and applied political leadership. She was an Atlantik-Brucke Young Leader, New Leaders Council Fellow, Rutgers Emerging Leaders Scholar, Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Minority Academic Careers Fellow, Eagleton Institute of Politics Fellow and graduate of the United Nations Worldview Institute.
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