Dr. Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika

Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika is a Full Professor in U of A’s Women’s and Gender Studies Department. 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. Her publication track record reflects extensive knowledge of transnational, post-colonial, and intersectional feminist approaches.

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.  Her research is supported by prominent funders, including the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Status of Women Canada and Rotary International. She works with a vast network of Canadian service providers and policymakers. Carnegie Corporation and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, among others, support her work in Africa. 

As a community-based researcher, policymakers, service providers and community partners are central to her work as stakeholders accorded agency in every stage of knowledge production and translation. Among many awards, Dr. Okeke-Ihejirika is a Killam scholar, Carnegie fellow, a founding member of the College of Mentors for African Universities, and a collaborating researcher with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.