Okoro recognized for exceptional service to unit
July 15, 2024
Provost Unit Service Award recognizes work that has strengthened function and climate of the recipient’s unit.
Dr. Olihe Okoro is the recipient of the University of Minnesota Provost’s Unit Service Award. These awards are given in recognition of exceptional service that has strengthened the functioning and climate of the recipient’s unit at the U of M. This is the second year of the award, which is a collaborative initiative of the Provost's Office and the Faculty Consultative Committee.
In the nomination letter submitted for Okoro, numerous accomplishments were highlighted:
Dr. Okoro’s dedication to a wide variety of meaningful service to the community, college, and University is beyond commendable. She has steadfastly demonstrated longitudinal commitment to the communities she serves, the College of Pharmacy, and the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Okoro is recognized as a trustworthy advocate and mentor and consistently innovates new approaches to support students and community members. She is also exceptionally humble about her work, preferring to direct attention to her students, colleagues and community members.
She convened the second annual Northland Health Equity Summit and led efforts to establish the Concordant Mentoring Program. An established innovator, Dr. Okoro co-led the establishment of the BE ME Program in the college.
Her service to campus/college/department has included membership in the Employees of Color & American Indian (EOCAI) Mentoring Program, service on the Committee on Scholarship Travel Funds, chair of the Students of Color/International Students Mentoring Program - a program under the Employees of Color & American Indian (EOCAI) Mentoring Program, coordinator of the College of Pharmacy Black/African American Affinity Group, and service on the Social & Administrative Pharmacy Graduate Program Admissions Committee.. Dr. Okoro represented PPPS as a member of the Center for Allied Health Programs-College of Pharmacy FCC Task Force, the College of Pharmacy Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, and the College of Pharmacy Faculty Consultative Council.
Dr. Okoro’s service to community has included serving as organizer/convener of the MN Black Pharmacists Network; an advisory board member for Healthy Alliances Matter for All (DBA Health Equity Northland), a partner in the COVID-19 Collaborative; a committee chair for the Health & Environmental Equity Committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Duluth Branch; a Duluth Board Member for the Family Freedom Academy; and a Board Member for the Rural AIDS Action Network. These community service activities strengthen the impact of the PPPS department in the Duluth community and further the collective efforts to improve the health of all within the region.