black or african american

Meet the Facilitators:

L'Aurelle Johnson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Director of Diversity & Inclusion

L'Aurelle Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy. She also holds an adjunct appointment in the Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson is a K12 scholar and specializes in pediatric pharmacology. Currently, Dr. Johnson is investigating the contributions of obesity to alterations in normal drug metabolism in children.

Olihe Okoro, PhD, MPH, MPharm
Assistant Professor

Olihe Okoro is a pharmacist by training with a doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy. Olihe currently holds a faculty position as an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Her research focuses on health disparities affecting Minority and underserved populations with particular emphasis on sociocultural, provider-associated, and system-related factors influencing patient behaviors (health-seeking, healthcare services utilization and medication adherence). As a social and behavioral researcher, she has years of experience engaging community members and patient populations in health education and promotion interventions to address health disparities.


Group accomplishments:

  • The Black/African American Affinity Group is all about fostering community-building, providing social support and having a collective voice. We strive to enhance well-being and assure an environment that enables our members to thrive within and outside the College of Pharmacy. Membership is open to students, staff, faculty, and alumni who identify as Black or African American. We meet regularly and since inception have focused on the following -

  • Fostering a safe space for Black and African American students to share their feelings and experiences about being black at a predominantly white institution;

  • Building relationships between students and faculty to facilitate meaningful mentorship, social support, well-being and a greater sense of community;

  • Creating a Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) chapter at the UMN College of Pharmacy to allow students to further enhance their education on providing anti-racist care and examining the history of health disparities that exist today;

  • Supporting Collegiate efforts to address racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd; and

  • Developing connections with Black/African American pharmacists in Minnesota to further mentor students and increase diversity in the pharmacy workforce