Dr. Obasesam Okoi, an assistant professor in the Justice and Society Studies Department at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, has been selected as one of 12 American educators to participate in a fully funded Fulbright-Hays Faculty Summer Program in Tanzania.
The program is facilitated by the School for International Training (SIT) and supported by a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad (GPA) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Fulbright-Hays Faculty Summer Program is part of the broader Fulbright program.
During his time in Tanzania, Okoi will spend five weeks engaging in an immersive and experiential program, “Tuko Pamoja: Tanzanian Creativity and Perspectives in an Era of Climate Change,” exploring the creative and innovative ways urban and rural communities are responding to environmental changes. This experience will allow him to incorporate African viewpoints into his teaching and curriculum discussions on climate change.
As stated in the award letter, Okoi’s selection for the Fulbright grant acknowledges not only his academic and professional achievements but also his leadership potential. As a Fulbrighter, Okoi will serve as a “cultural ambassador” to his host country and will be an active and engaged member of his community upon returning to the U.S.