Joining the Humphrey School from the UMN College of Design, Distinguished Global Professor, Professor of Interior Design and Associate Dean for Research, Creative Scholarship, and Engagement Abimbola Asojo has been named the new associate dean for faculty. She follows Professor Catherine Squires, who leaves the University after 15 years of teaching, research, and leadership.
“Professor Asojo is known throughout the University as a dynamic, energetic, and mission-driven leader and scholar,” said Humphrey School Dean Nisha Botchwey. “I am thrilled to welcome her to our School where we can advance local, national, and global common good together with her vision of promoting faculty excellence and student success.”
As the associate dean, Asojo will be part of the Humphrey School’s leadership team, set faculty recruitment and retention strategy, and be an important representative of the School within the University of Minnesota.
“I am very excited about the new associate dean for faculty position,” Asojo said. “It is a great opportunity to bring my expertise and vision to collaborate with Dean Botchwey and colleagues in the Humphrey School to continue building on its excellent reputation.”
With more than 25 years of teaching, research and leadership experience at the University and within the community, Asojo has been widely recognized and published in journals and books. Additionally, she is a licensed architect and holds a National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification. She is also a fellow of the UMN’s Institute on the Environment.
Her research areas explore beyond the built environment in areas like cross-cultural design, architectural lighting design, African architecture, computing and design, globalization and design, sustainable design, post-occupancy evaluation and K-12 spaces.
Asojo brings vast experience in working with students in community-based service-learning projects that address local and global societal challenges. She co-founded the lighting design minor in the College of Design in 2019. Asojo’s capacity building efforts led to the development of the first Masters of Interior Design in West Africa. Asojo developed and has led the College of Design Diversity and Design program which exposes K-12 students to architecture and design careers since 2013.
She was named a US DesignIntelligence top educator in 2010 and 2017. In 2018, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. In 2020, she received the University of Minnesota Outstanding Community Service Faculty Award, the highest honor the University gives to a faculty member for service to the community.
Asojo received an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology and Technology, Anthropology, and History from the University of Oklahoma. She also holds a Master of Science in Architecture from Obafemi Awolowo University and a Master of Science in Architecture Computing and Design from the University of East London.
“Please help me in welcoming Professor Asojo as we work together to inspire, educate, and support the innovative leaders who are part of the Humphrey School,” Botchwey said.
