Dr.

Wendy Osefo
Born
Wendy Onyinye Ozuzu

(1984-05-21) May 21, 1984
Nigeria
Spouse
Edward Osefo
​
(m. 2011)​
Children3
Academic background
EducationTemple University (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)
Rutgers University–Camden (MS, PhD)
ThesisEngaging Low-Income Parents in Schools: Beyond the PTA Meeting (2016)
Doctoral advisorGloria Bonilla-Santiago
Academic work
InstitutionsJohns Hopkins School of Education
WebsiteOfficial website

Dr. Wendy Onyinye Osefo (née Ozuzu,[1] born May 21, 1984) is a Nigerian-American political commentator, public affairs academic, and television personality. She is an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Education, and a main cast member of The Real Housewives of Potomac.

Early life and education

Born to an Igbo family in Nigeria, Osefo immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 3 to Durham, North Carolina[2] before settling in Maryland.[3] She earned a Bachelor's degree in political science from Temple University and a Master of Arts degree in government from Johns Hopkins University. In 2012, Osefo completed a M.Sc. in public affairs with a concentration in community development from Rutgers University–Camden.

In 2016, she became the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in public affairs and community development from Rutgers-Camden.[4][5] Her dissertation is entitled Engaging low-income parents in schools: beyond the PTA meeting. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago was Osefo's doctoral advisor.[6]

Career

Osefo is a contributor for The Hill, the founder and chief executive officer of 1954 Equity, and an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Education.[7] In 2014, she served as the inaugural director of the Masters of Arts in Management Program at Goucher College.[5]

She is a board member for the late Congressman Elijah Cummings' Youth to Israel Program, Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore, and The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Schools.[8]

In 2020, it was announced that Osefo had joined the fifth season of The Real Housewives of Potomac.[9]

Awards and recognition

  • In 2017, Osefo was named one of 12 Pan African Women to Watch by Face2Face Africa.[10][11]
  • She received the 2017 Outstanding Graduate Award from her alma mater, Johns Hopkins University.[12]
  • Also in 2017, she received the Distinguished Recent Alumni Award from The Johns Hopkins University.[13]
  • She is the recipient of the Diversity Recognition Award.
  • Osefo was named in the 2017 40 Under 40 class by the Baltimore Business Journal.[14]
  • The Baltimore Sun named Osefo as one of the 25 Women to Watch.[15]
  • She was named a 2018 Black Women in Media honoree for her work in media and television.

Personal life

In August 2011, she married Edward Osefo.[1][16] The two reside in Finksburg, Maryland with their three children.[14] Their relationship is regularly showcased on The Real Housewives of Potomac. The family is Catholic.[17]

She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 "BLACK WEDDING STYLE: Nigerian Couple Marries Modernity and Tradition". EBONY. June 15, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ Osefo, Dr. Wendy (August 18, 2017). "I came to this country when I was 3 and the first place I called home was #Durham NC. Please keep my hometown in your prayers #DefendDurham". Twitter. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  3. ↑ Herz, Jane (August 2, 2020). "Wendy Osefo, New Real Housewives of Potomac Star: Five Fast Facts You Need To Know". Heavy. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  4. ↑ Otumu, George Elijah (January 13, 2018). "MAKING NIGERIA PROUD OVERSEAS: DR. WENDY OSEFO". Nigeria Standard Newspaper. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Wendy Osefo '16". Rutgers University–Camden. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
  6. ↑ Osefo, Wendy (2016). Engaging low-income parents in schools (Thesis). Rutgers University - Camden Graduate School. doi:10.7282/T3HH6NBJ. OCLC 974771468.
  7. ↑ "Meet The CEO". The 1954 Equity Project. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Wendy Osefo, PhD". JHU School of Education. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  9. ↑ Zafar, Nina (August 3, 2020). "Wendy Osefo is a professor, political commentator and philanthropist. She's also the newest 'Real Housewife.'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  10. ↑ "Wendy Osefo, PhD". JHU School of Education. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  11. ↑ Nkem, Omolayo (2017-06-02). "12 Influential Young Pan-African Women to Watch". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  12. ↑ "The Outstanding Recent Graduate Award | Johns Hopkins Alumni". alumni.jhu.edu. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  13. ↑ Nkem, Omolayo (June 2, 2017). "12 Influential Young Pan-African Women to Watch". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  14. 1 2 Carley, Milligan. "40 Under 40: Wendy Osefo, Johns Hopkins University". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  15. ↑ Prudente, Tim (September 25, 2017). "The Baltimore Sun's 25 Women to Watch in 2017". baltimoresun.com.
  16. ↑ "Stylish Nigerian Wedding in Baltimore, Maryland: Wendy + Eddie". MunaLuchi Bride. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Singleton, Sheridan (2023-11-21). "'RHOP' Is Demonizing the Culture and Spirituality of Nigeria". Collider. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  18. ↑ Herz, Jane (2020-08-16). "These Real Housewives of Potomac Members Have A Big Connection To Kamala Harris". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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