Omolayo Umaru

Director at Large

About Me: Hello! I come from Nigeria - a vibrant West African nation often called "the giant of Africa." My professional journey began with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, after which I practiced as a pharmacist for several years. I later earned both a Master's in Clinical Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and following a 4-year Fellowship, I became a Consultant Clinical Pharmacist. Currently, I'm in my fourth year as a PhD student in Social & Administrative Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), while also pursuing a Doctoral minor in Business Management. Throughout my career, I've served on numerous committees at both institutional and state levels, collaborating with various organizations on diverse projects and initiatives. These experiences have honed my communication abilities and strengthened my inter-personal skills.

My Responsibilities: As the Director at Large, I am responsible for liaising with other organizations or bodies within and outside the U of M, on matters that concern international graduate students of the university in general; and I am committed to playing my part to ensure that we achieve our goals for this unique graduate student body. 

Why I'm Passionate About CIGS: While COGS represents our large and diverse graduate student body, I believe international students face unique challenges that require dedicated attention. These specific needs must be continuously identified and addressed, which is why I'm passionate about contributing to CIGS and advocating for our international graduate community.

Key Achievements:

• Served as Mentor in College of Pharmacy Black RXcellence Program.

• Peer-reviewer for multiple journals.

• Recipient of multiple fellowships / awards from the College of Pharmacy. 

• Advocate for immigrant and refugee healthcare access.

Fun Facts:

• I'm a proud mom who loves balancing family life with my academic pursuits!

• In my free time, I enjoy reading biographies, brainstorming research ideas, traveling, meeting new people, and creating hand-made jewelry.

Connect with Me:

• LinkedIn: Omolayo Umaru