2019 Chancellor Winner: Teniola Olafuyi 

Teniola Olafuyi expects to work in health policy while volunteering in an organization the mentors students and help women. (Photo by Scott Freedman)

A double major in Public Health and Political Science, with a minor in History, Teniola Olafuyi plans to continue her education after graduation, pursing a master’s in public health with a concentration on public policy. Her goal: to advance the rights of underrepresented people.

As a student, she was involved in the Sankofa Africa Organization, participated in the Semester in Washington Program through Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law fraternity.

Olafuyi has been a STEP tutor at Albany High School since 2016, and was a UAlbany Votes Ambassador. She was active in UAlbany Go and Pathways to Success, and participated in the Global Leaders Experience and CSTEP.

“From my experience at UAlbany, I learned how to become a leader inside and outside the classroom, whether it was taking advantage of a research or internship opportunity or knowing the importance of listening to others,” Olafuyi said. “Without these experiences, I wouldn’t have known what my passion is in my life.”

Olafuyi sees herself in the future as living and working in Washington, D.C., in a health policy role, either as a senior advisor or at a federal health agency. She plans to continue her volunteer work at community organizations that mentor students and help women. Eventually she anticipated earning a PhD or law degree.

For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds