Career Trajectory
The Journey
From a science degree in Nigeria to a keynote at the Palais des Nations, Geneva: five chapters of a career built on resilience, excellence, and an unshakeable commitment to people and communities.
"My career does not follow a straight line. It is not a ladder. It is a road, full of turns, of unexpected terrain, of places where I had to stop and rebuild the path from scratch."
— Dr Ifeoma Elizabeth Dan-Ogosi
Chapter 01
Where It Began
Roots, wings, and the love of science.
My father was a teacher who believed in the power of questioning everything. My mother carried royal lineage. Between them, they gave me both roots and wings.
BSc Microbiology (2.1)
Graduated from Bendel State University, Ekpoma, Nigeria. The first chapter of a life built on intellectual curiosity and a love of science.
Chapter 02
Excellence on the Sales Floor
Nationally recognised. Consistently the best in the room.
Those years taught me how to read a room, build trust quickly, communicate across difference, and deliver under pressure. In academia we call it stakeholder engagement. On the sales floor, we called it showing up.
Sales Executive at Rank Xerox
Joined Rank Xerox, developing world-class skills in communication, trust-building, and high-performance delivery.
Best Sales Executive Award, National
Won the national Best Sales Executive Award. Prize: a brand-new Hyundai Accent.
Best-Dressed Salesperson, Kaduna Branch
Won the award consistently, year after year, until the branch eventually cancelled it. Not because standards had slipped. Because no one could match hers.
Chapter 03
Starting Over
Migration, reinvention, and the refusal to be unseen.
I would retrain. Not to prove myself to a system that had already failed to see me, but to build the career I had always been called to. Health. People. Communities.
Moved to the UK
Arrived with four young children, on a work permit with no recourse to public funds, bringing a Microbiology degree, eight years of award-winning experience, and the quiet confidence of someone who had proved herself at every level.
MSc in Public Health, Merit with Distinction in Dissertation
Completed at the University of East London, while working full-time on zero-hour contracts and raising four children, two of whom have disabilities.
Chapter 04
Building in Health Research & Higher Education
From research assistant to doctor. From contributor to award-winner.
I did not wait for perfect conditions. I built within the conditions I had.
Well London Programme, Research Assistant
Contributed to a £10M Big Lottery-funded programme working with 30+ local authorities. Evidence contributed to NICE Guideline NG44, shaping national policy on community engagement.
MPhil, University of East London
Continued doctoral journey alongside full-time professional responsibilities.
FHEA & PgCert in Academic Practice
Awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Sunderland.
Impact & Evaluation Manager at UEL
Supported 45 widening participation projects, engaged over 12,000 students. Contributed to two national award wins including NEON Widening Access Award and Pearson HE Innovate Award.
PhD Interruption: Family First
Took a year's interruption from her PhD to support two adult children through their final year at university while helping her 16-year-old through GCSEs. She carried all of it.
Senior Fellowship, Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Awarded Senior Fellowship, recognising sustained impact on student learning and the teaching profession.
PhD in Public Health Awarded
Doctorate awarded by the University of East London. At graduation, UEL's Vice-Chancellor and President publicly cited her research for its impact on community health and wellbeing.
Chapter 05
Leading, Advocating, and Building What Comes Next
From a sales floor in Kaduna to the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
I am a Relentless People Connector and a Positive Disruptor. And I am, as I have always been, just getting started.
Senior Lecturer in Public Health at UWE Bristol
Joined the School of Health and Social Wellbeing. Led curriculum across BSc and MSc, taught 250+ students, coordinated 16 external guest lecturers annually, supervised 15+ dissertations.
Co-Chair, 100 Black Women Professors Now
Joined a programme that grew from 35 to 100 Black women professors during her tenure. Leading national change in who gets to belong in UK higher education.
Founded the Safe Space Initiative (SSI)
Born from lived experience at UWE Bristol, the SSI is now adopted nationally by WHEN as a legacy project. Launched June 2026.
TMC Model Adopted at University of Southampton
The Transformative Multicultural Classroom model, developed over 15 years, is now being embedded in staff development nationally. Cited by colleagues across UK institutions.
Won EDI Award & Diversity Award
Won the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award at UWE Staff Awards (23 November 2025) and the Diversity Award at UEL Alumni Achievement Awards (16 October 2025).
Presented in Singapore, New York, Sweden & Across the UK
International conference dissemination including the 4th International Public Health Conference (Singapore), EURA (Bristol), ESA (Sweden), and King's College London.
Won Best Poster Award at SRHE International Conference
Recognised at the 60th Society for Research in Higher Education international conference for multicultural pedagogies work.
Heroes Future Leaders Role Model Award, Top 100 Women Future Leaders
Won the Heroes Future Leaders Role Model award, named on the Top 100 Women Future Leaders list by INvolve – the Inclusion People.
Keynote Speaker at ICGSC, Teesside University
Delivered keynote 'Crime as a Public Health Crisis: Reframing the Experiences of Young Black Men in the UK' at the International Criminology and Global Security Conference, Teesside University.
Closing Keynote at the Palais des Nations, United Nations, Geneva
Delivered the Closing Keynote at the Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summit at the Palais des Nations, United Nations, Geneva. From a sales floor in Kaduna to the world stage.
TEDxAfrica, Abuja
TEDx talk in preparation for delivery in Abuja, Nigeria.
Just Getting Started
"I am a Relentless People Connector and a Positive Disruptor. And I am, as I have always been, just getting started."
— Dr Ifeoma Elizabeth Dan-Ogosi, PhD, SFHEA