Seven Graduate Students Receive Awards

Seven of our PhD graduate students, Lovelyn Madu, Ibrahim O. Adenekan, Saburi T. Rasheed, Gboyega D. Adepoju, Magdaline N. Nwankwor, Chiemezie E. Izuazu, and Damilola A. Tawose, received Academic Excellence Awards from the Black Faculty and Staff Association of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the 36th annual Black Student Achievement Awards Ceremony on 31 March 2025. More than 700 Black undergraduate and graduate students were honored for academic excellence.

photo caption: Lovelyn Ogechukwu Madu

photo caption: Ibrahim O. Adenekan

The Black Faculty and Staff Association is an officially recognized university organization established to address and serve the needs and concerns of Black faculty, staff and students on campus. The mission of the Black Faculty and Staff Association is to promote diversity, equity, fair representation, employment and quality of life on the campus of UL Lafayette. The Black Faculty and Staff Association welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with other groups and organizations on campus to continually advance the goals of inclusion at the University.

photo caption: These are the 8 graduate students from Nigeria with their awards (L to R): standing: Precious E. Batubo (PhD student in Earth and Energy and Science - Geology concentration), Clement T. Okolo (PhD student in Computer Science), Saburi T. Rasheed (PhD student in Mathematics), Ibrahim O. Adenekan (PhD student in Mathematics), Ayodeji Taiwo Ayo-Ojo (MS in Informatics), Etyeno Udowoima (MS student in Informatics); squatting: Suleman O. Afolabi (PhD student in Computer Science), Lovelyn Ogechukwu Madu (PhD student in Mathematics).

photo caption: Dr. Melissa A. Lewis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President, Lovelyn Ogechukwu Madu, Dean Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Graduate Dean

photo caption: Dr. Melissa A. Lewis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President, Ibrahim Adenekan, Dean Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Graduate Dean

photo caption: Dr. Melissa A. Lewis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President, Saburi Rasheed, Dean Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Graduate Dean

photo caption: Dr. Melissa A. Lewis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President, Gboyega Adepoju, Dean Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Graduate Dean

photo caption: Dr. Melissa A. Lewis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President, Nchedo Nwankwor, Dean Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Graduate Dean

photo caption: Dr. Melissa A. Lewis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President, Chiemezie Izuazu, Dean Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Graduate Dean

photo caption: Dr. Melissa A. Lewis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President, Damilola Tawose, Dean Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Graduate Dean