Adenike is a native New Yorker, born and raised in the Bronx. As the daughter of an entrepreneur that migrated from Nigeria and a Bronx public servant, the importance of education and giving back to her community have been instilled in her since childhood. Adenike is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a bachelor's degree in finance. Aggie Pride! While in college, Adenike put her passion for education and community service to work, volunteering for a college readiness program that was organized by her sorority at a local high school in Greensboro, N.C. Adenike has spent the majority of her career as a finance professional working for education reform nonprofits. She recognizes that real change happens when people do what they can, where they are, with what they have.
I aspire to be like my mother. Here’s why:
My mother is my idea of a modern day superhero. She has always supported my sister and I, even when she may not have agreed with our choices. Our home was always filled with love, laughter and encouragement. My mother is bold and has never been afraid to reinvent herself. She has held many different positions in her areas of expertise, from social worker to legal aid lawyer to one of a handful of African American judges in the Bronx Family Court. Currently, she serves as the supervising attorney for the Urban Justice Center helping domestic violence victims get the legal assistance and expertise that they require. My mother is amazing! Strong yet gentle, smart yet never dismissive, nurturing yet firm, confident, always poised and well put together.
I love my job because it is an opportunity to help anticipate and solve problems. It taps on the skillset that I posses. My job allows me to think creatively. I’m always challenging myself to find ways to do things better, faster and easier.
My grandmother was a New York City public school teacher for 25 years; she was one of the smartest, boldest, most creative and hardest working women that helped make me the woman that I am today.
Remembering birthdays. Most people that know me always remember my birthday because it’s a holiday. I try to remember birthdays by their proximity to major holidays… but it hasn’t quite helped. So if I forget your birthday, please don’t hold it against me!
As Arne Duncan said, “In America, education is still the great equalizer." By reducing the barriers to quality education we can help many children break the cycle of poverty and give them the opportunity to achieve their dreams. When you dream big, the sky is the limit.