KEHINDE O. POPOOLA

With over 17 years of experience in research, advocacy, and community development, I am a dynamic and dedicated Gendered Urbanist and Social Planner. As a Full Professor, my expertise lies in gender-responsive planning, feminist research, women's economic empowerment, and women's rights advocacy. My goal is to advance gender equity and create inclusive environments through strategic planning and collaboration. Throughout my career, I have successfully secured external funding, mentored students, and built cross-disciplinary networks to support innovative feminist scholarship. I excel in program development, evidence-based advocacy, and forming partnerships to drive impactful solutions. My core competencies include Women's Rights & Gender Justice Advocacy, Program Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), Feminist Research Methodologies, Knowledge Sharing & Capacity Strengthening, Advocacy & Policy Development, Cross-Cultural Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement, Mentorship & Experiential Learning, and Strategic Research Leadership.

Selected Gender Courses Developed & Taught Gendered Planning: Feminist Perspectives, Intersectionality in Urban Planning, Gender and Climate Vulnerabilities. Social Policy & Planning: Housing and Homelessness, Social Impact Assessments, Equity in Public Space Design. Rural Development: Gender and Rural Development, Participatory Planning, Resilience in Rural Communities.

Research Grant ● The Climate Impact Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement (CIRCLE) Research Grant for Research on “Climate Variability Impact on Livelihood Security of The Rural Aged Populations and Indigenous Coping Strategies in Different Eco Climatic Zones of Nigeria,” (2017) ● Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET-Fund) Grant for Research on Child Poverty in selected Rural Border Communities of Nigeria (2016) ● Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and The African Academy of Science Grant for Female Academics, (2016).

Fellowship ● Commonwealth Academic Fellowship for Research on “Analysis of Cross Border Migration and Livability of Border Communities of Nigeria” at The University of Newcastle, United Kingdom, (2015) ● Netherland Fellowship Program (NFP) for Housing and Urban Development (ICHUD) at the International Institute of Housing and Development Studies of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Scholarship ● Leaders of Africa Institute Research Methods Program: Social Impact Scholarship (2024) ● Carnegie Scholarship for Research in Gender and Travel Behavior (M.Sc. Program, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife)

Leadership Experience Research Lead , Gendered Planning Initiative

Obafemi Awolowo University Initiated cross-disciplinary collaborations, securing partnerships with community organizations. · Faculty Focal Person, Gender and Social Policy Centre Launched mentorship programs supporting early-career scholars and graduate students in feminist research.

Board Member & Program Director
Daughters of Africa Resource Centre, Canada Advocated for African migrant women's rights, reaching over 1,000 participants through education and advocacy programs. Increased organizational efficiency by 20% through process optimization and capacity building.

Director, Cedar Institute, Nigeria

Led professional development programs for over 2,000 participants, focusing on skills training and community outreach.