Abiodun Durojaye, Ed.D 

Chief Executive Officer

Abiodun Durojaye, Ed.D. is the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Alliance. Recognized as a national thought leader and educator, Abiodun is dedicated to elevating young people by providing them with access to equitable educational advancement, early career development and student achievement opportunities. Throughout her professional career, Abiodun’s work has centered on breaking down barriers that impede young people from achieving their full potential. As CEO, she will continue to advance the organization’s mission and strategic direction to give high school students opportunities in diverse career pathways including paid internships, mentoring, and professional development across multiple workplace sectors.

Abiodun joined Urban Alliance in 2021 as Executive Director of the Chicago Region. In that role she increased the region’s funding sources and employer partners to increase the number of student participation in the organization’s flagship High School Internship Program (HSIP). Before joining Urban Alliance, Abiodun worked in higher education including National Louis University where she served as Executive Director of the Career Bridge Department and assisted in the launch of a Career Readiness Endorsement Program that focuses on building students’ confidence and essential skills prior to graduation. Born and raised in Lagos Nigeria and later migrating to the United States at an early age, Abiodun understands first-hand the systemic barriers that negatively impact people of color. These lived experiences are what led her to pave the way for young people of color to excel in the workplace. In 2016, she created an organization called ASIDALove which is designed to inspire young immigrant girls to look beyond any challenges they may face and re-envision a future filled with opportunity and achievement.

Passionate about creating access to equitable opportunities, education innovation, youth empowerment and professional development, Abiodun has spoken at some of the nation’s largest gatherings of thought leaders including South by Southwest®(SXSW), the Forum on Workplace Inclusion, and Chicago’s TEDxWrigleyville. Abiodun is the recipient of the New Roseland Community 2023 Trailblazer Award, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network 2023 Supervisor of the Year Award, and the 2020 “Indiana INTERNnet IMPACT Award for College Career Development Professional of the Year” for her unique ways of creating access to internship and work opportunities for young adults.

Abiodun Durojaye, Ed.D. earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a master’s degree in African Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and her Doctoral degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Governors State University in Chicago.