Joel Olufowote

Biography

Dr. Olufowote is an associate professor of political science at Indiana Wesleyan University where he teaches courses across the curriculum with specializations in global politics and governance, the politics of sport, and research methodology. Dr. Olufowote is also on concurrent appointment at Indiana Wesleyan as the Executive Director of the Office of Intercultural Learning and Engagement. In this capacity, he oversees IWU-Marion campus efforts in intercultural literacy and cultural competencies and serves on the senior administrative cabinet of IWU-Marion. Prior to joining Indiana Wesleyan University in the Fall of 2018, Dr. Olufowote was an assistant professor of political science at McMurry University, in Abilene Texas, where he helped grow the political science major from 5 students in 2013 to over 20 by 2018. At McMurry, Dr. Olufowote also led efforts behind the creation of the Diversity Affairs Council and founded the Center for Community Inclusion. Prior to his time at McMurry University, Dr. Olufowote spent a year as a Rockefeller Postdoctoral Fellow of Comparative Public Policy at S.U.N.Y Albany and served for multiple years as a program assistant for U.S. State Department intercultural exchange programs. Dr. Olufowote and his partner in the Lord, Dr. Rachael Olufowote, reside in Marion.

Interests

Dr. Olufowote’s academic interests are primarily based on the ways power and influence are experienced in relatively unconventional political contexts. As such the domains of sport, music, and the church, are oft-investigated areas of research and scholarly pursuit for Olufowote. In tangential relation to Dr. Olufowote’s administrative duties, insight into how societal and institutional culture shape perspectives of justice is a burgeoning area of inquiry. On the co-curricular, Olufowote is an active participant in student-led organizations, enjoys attending all athletic competitions on campus, and relishes time spent with his wife, Rachael, pursuing the Lord at home and in the local church, performing the occasional CrossFit workout of the day, or being Netflix lazy.

Degrees

• Ph.D.
  2013, Southern Illinois University- Carbondale
• M.A.
  2008, Southern Illinois University- Carbondale
• B.S.
  2005, The University of Indianapolis