Dr. Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika is a full Professor in University of Alberta’s Women’s and Gender Studies Department and Director to both the Pan African Collaboration for Excellence (PACE) and the SSHRC Partnership for Research with African Newcomers (PRAN). Over the course of her 25-year academic career, Dr. Okeke-Ihejirika has worked on research projects, program planning, graduate and professional training among other initiatives related to gender issues in Africa, Canada and other parts of the world. She brings, in particular, a critical feminist lens into a wide range of innovative methodologies, including participatory action research, scoping review, meta-synthesis and focused surveys. Dr. Okeke-Ihejirika is also actively involved in community building as a resource person to many community organizations, service providers and public agencies in Alberta. Her research is supported by prominent funders, including the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Status of Women Canada, and Rotary International. As a community-based researcher, policymakers, service providers and community partners are central to Dr. Okeke-Ihejirika’s works, as stakeholders accord agency in every stage of knowledge production and translation.

Learn more about the Pan African Collaboration for Excellence initiative here.