Distinguished Service Award 2017

Olukemi Fadayomi

Olukemi Fadayomi, Professor of Biology in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education, received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award for her leadership in the local, state, national, and international community as well as in her mentor role.

“Dr. Fadayomi exemplifies the meaning of service within the university community and beyond. She has chaired the University Curriculum Committee and sat on many committees within her department and college. Dr. Fadayomi has also focused on global as well as diversity and inclusion initiatives,” the 2017 Distinguished Service Committee noted.

“My service philosophy is built on the principle that was instilled in me as a child, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected,’” wrote Fadayomi. “Service is about helping others. I have served with a conviction that one should serve a cause that is higher than self, and with the hope and belief of making each community better with my contributions.”

In addition to chairing the University Curriculum Committee, Fadayomi co-founded the Women’s Leadership Forum to encourage women to attend the Higher Education Resource Services Summer Institute (HERS). She has provided assistance to many other University, college, and department committees and initiatives.

At the international and national level, Fadayomi has advocated for her discipline and raised awareness of Ferris as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Namibia, Africa; as an external Assessor at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa; and as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. She represented Ferris at the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Nigeria, which forged an Education Partnership agreement between the two institutions.

In addition to administrative service, Fadayomi has made an impact as an academic advisor. “An advisor recommends course schedules and fills out paperwork, but a mentor inspires and motivates students to do more than they ever could imagine on their own. For me, Dr. Fadayomi falls firmly in the latter category,” wrote biology student Alex Warju. Fadayomi also serves as an advisor to the Ferris African Student Union RSO.

Fadayomi earned a doctoral degree in Biology from North Texas State University, a master’s degree in Biology from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from East Texas Baptist University.

Fadayomi and other recipients of the 2017 Academic Affairs Awards were recognized on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at the Employee Service Awards in the David L. Eisler Center.