Dr. Abiodun Durojaye

As executive director of Urban Alliance Chicago, Dr. Abiodun Durojaye continues her career of empowering people, particularly low-income, first-generation, and marginalized young people, to break down barriers and take a seat at the table.

Prior to joining Urban Alliance in 2021, Abiodun worked at National Louis University where she was the executive director of the Career Bridge Department. In this role, she assisted in the launch of a Career Readiness Endorsement program that focuses on building students’ confidence and soft skills prior to graduation.

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Abiodun understands the systemic barriers within the educational system that impact student success and economic mobility, and she has dedicated her life to assisting young people in overcoming those barriers and achieving their career and professional goals.

Abiodun also runs an organization called ASIDALove which was designed to help inspire young immigrant girls to look beyond obstacles and challenges they may face and re-envision a future filled with opportunity and achievement. She understands what it means to grow up in under-resourced neighborhoods. Although she and her family migrated to the United States at an early age, Abiodun has dedicated her life to serving a population she once was a part of.

Abiodun spent her career in various higher education and workforce development roles, which shaped her understanding of youth development and empowerment. Dr. Durojaye earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in African studies, both from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and earned her doctoral degree in interdisciplinary leadership from Governors State University.