YOSEFU ABAYOMI

Strategic higher education and civic engagement leader with 20+ years of experience advancing interdisciplinary initiatives at the intersection of public engagement, academic innovation, leadership development, and community-centered systems change. Proven ability to build collaborative partnerships connecting universities, nonprofit organizations, civic institutions, students, and community stakeholders around experiential learning, public leadership, and measurable social impact. Experienced leading assessment-informed engagement strategies, partnership ecosystems, and public-facing initiatives that bridge institutional priorities with applied community practice and long-term organizational impact.

• National Partner | Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC)
• Faith-Based Partnership Lead | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit
• Coordinator | Circle of Brotherhood & Men’s Leadership Conference | Oakland University
• Director | Student Advisory Council | University of Michigan School of Education
• Founder & Chair | Human Rights and Multicultural Association | Schoolcraft College
• Outreach & Community Engagement Chair | Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) | Oakland University
• Legislative Apprentice | Hon. Jimmy Womack | Michigan House of Representatives

• Federal TRIO Programs — Educational Talent Search & Upward Bound, Supported first-generation and historically marginalized students through mentoring, academic coaching, college readiness advising, leadership development, and educational pathway planning initiatives housed within Detroit Public Schools Community District sites.
• Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools & Wayne State University C2 Pipeline Program, Facilitated culturally affirming mentoring, literacy engagement, leadership development, and student empowerment initiatives serving youth throughout Detroit communities.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, Led interfaith partnership and mentor recruitment initiatives designed to strengthen community mentoring ecosystems and expand youth support networks throughout metropolitan Detroit.

• Congressional Oversight Bootcamp | Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy
• Leading Diverse Teams and Organizations | University of Michigan
• Leading for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Higher Education | University of Michigan
• Diversity and Inclusion in Education | University of Glasgow
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace | University of South Florida MUMA College of Business

• Expanded cross-sector partnerships by 167% within first year at Wayne State University’s MPREP Scholars program, transforming a limited engagement model into a collaborative ecosystem supporting mentorship, experiential learning, and leadership development.
• Directed leadership and mentoring initiatives supporting more than 100 students annually at Oakland University through mentorship, engagement, and pathway development programming.
• Facilitated recurring Circle of Brotherhood mentoring sessions engaging approximately 25–40 male students annually focused on leadership, accountability, identity development, and student success.
• Organized the annual CMI Men’s Conference, convening more than 100 students, educators, professionals, and civic leaders annually around mentorship, leadership development, and community empowerment.
• Built strategic partnerships across higher education, nonprofit, civic, faith-based, and community organizations supporting experiential learning, civic engagement, and leadership pathway development.

• Designed and implemented assessment-informed engagement programming aligned with institutional goals, student learning outcomes, and stakeholder expectations.
• Developed evaluation frameworks, engagement metrics, and outcome reporting strategies assessing program effectiveness, participation outcomes, and organizational impact.
• Coordinated cross-functional initiatives involving faculty, administrators, community partners, and students supporting experiential learning and interdisciplinary engagement.