Wendy Osefo, PhD

Wendy Osefo is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Education program at the Johns Hopkins School of Education. Her research examines how race and class influence the learning, achievement, and educational trajectories of non-dominant students in schools and community settings, and explores the intersections between race, equity, and underserved student groups in K-12 and postsecondary learning communities.

Prior to joining the Hopkins faculty, Wendy served as the Director of Family and Community Engagement for the Obama Administration’s Antipoverty Initiative and the signature program for the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, DC Promise Neighborhood (DCPNI). While at DCPNI she designed, and implemented culturally competent parent-centered engagement strategies, and successfully created and launched the first comprehensive adult learning academy within an underserved neighborhood in northeast Washington, D.C.

Her leadership in the creation of the first comprehensive adult learning academy led her to serve as the inaugural director of the Master of Arts in Management Program at Goucher College. Osefo has over a decade of experience as an advocate for low-income children and families. She also served as an analyst for the Office of the Attorney General in Washington, D.C.

In addition to her policy experience, Osefo regularly provides political commentary and analysis on national TV networks, including CNN, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, and others. Her appearances also include podcast, radio shows, and print media on issues that examine race and politics. Currently she has a weekly radio segment on Radio One 93.9FM WKYS, entitled “News You Need to Know, With Dr. Wendy O.” She is the 2018 recipient of the Black Women in Media Award for her contributions to the field of journalism, the 2017 recipient of the Johns Hopkins Diversity Recognition Award, the 2017 recipient of the Johns Hopkins University Outstanding Recent Graduate Award, a 2017 40 under 40 recipient, and a 2017 25 Women to Watch recipient.

Osefo is a board trustee of the Children’s Scholarship Foundation of Baltimore, and a board member for The Education Foundation, Congressman Elijah Cummings Youth to Israel Program and The Obama Green Charter School. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and The National Urban League, and presents nationally on urban education, leadership and social equity.