February 2025

Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science and co-president of the ISSS ISAB (2023-2025)

Opeyemi O. Ogedengbe’s commitment to research, leadership, and community underscores
her unique contributions as an international graduate student and global change-maker. She is
a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science from Edo State, Nigeria. Her
research focuses on the efficacy and safety of plant-based nutritional therapies in mitigating
metabolic diseases, particularly on understanding the cellular processes and metabolites
involved. Her work aims to advance healthcare and biomedical applications through innovative
nutritional solutions.

Opeyemi is an American Society for Nutrition CRN-ASNF Program Scholar and a UMD Global
STEWARDS Fellow. Her dedication to improving global public health through nutrition matches
her passion for leadership and service. For the last two years, she has been co-president of the
International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), championing international student voices and
engagement on our campus. Reflecting on her journey as an international student, Opeyemi
encourages her peers with a powerful message: “The world is your oyster; don’t limit yourself or
be afraid to take on daunting opportunities.”