With over a decade of experience, Dr. Osefo is a consultant on issues of equity and access. As a researcher, Wendy examines how race and class influence the learning, achievement, and educational trajectories of African American and other non-dominant students in schools and community settings. Her research on teacher-student allyship is featured in the groundbreaking book I Wish My Teacher Knew by Kyle Schwartz. Dr. Osefo’s latest research explores perceptions of “Blackness” and how it affects student development at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) following the 2016 Presidential Election, the Baltimore Uprising, and the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement. She has written extensively on politics and race, and her work has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, FOX NEWS, ABC, TV ONE, TED Education, and many others. 

An influential voice in politics, policy, and education, Dr. Osefo is a highly sought after political commentator, author, media personality, and Professor.

Dr. Osefo served as the Director of the Master of Arts in Management program at Goucher College where she provided academic and administrative leadership and was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administration and operation of the management program. Before joining Goucher’s faculty, Dr. Osefo served as the Director of Family and Community Engagement and Director of Parent Programs for the DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative. The Promise Neighborhood Initiative is the Obama Administration’s Antipoverty initiative and the signature program for the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. Dr. Osefo designed and implemented culturally competent parent-centered engagement strategies and successfully created and launched the first comprehensive adult learning academy in the Washington D.C. Kenilworth-Parkside community.

Wendy holds a B.A. in Political Science from Temple University, an M.A. in Government from The Johns Hopkins University, and an M.Sc. in Public Affairs from Rutgers University. In 2016, Dr. Osefo became the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Public Affairs-Community Development from Rutgers University.  Dr. Osefo is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Dr. Osefo has received numerous awards over the years, but Wendy is most proud of being a recipient of the Johns Hopkins Diversity Recognition Award, a recipient of the Johns Hopkins University Outstanding Graduate Award, a 40 Under 40 Honoree, a 25 Women to Watch Honoree, and a Black Women in Media Honoree.