Dedicated to Public Service
Emergency Management Specialist, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Alumnus Olurotimi “Timi” Akindele is applying his social sciences education in the career he is building in the federal government.
Olurotimi “Timi” Akindele (PS ’15)For Olurotimi “Timi” Akindele (PS ’15), the greatest fulfillment comes in helping others.
“Being able to give assistance, support, and help to individuals and communities is the best use of my God-given potential,” says Akindele, who was born in Jos, Nigeria, and spent his childhood there before his family moved to Chicago, where Akindele attended high school and college.
After graduating with his B.S. in political science, Akindele earned a master’s in communication and management at Northwestern University. He now works for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he is as an emergency management specialist.
“As an emergency manager, my responsibilities broadly comprise implementing DHS disaster plans, policies, guidance, and initiatives,” he says. “The workload specifically covers communicating and collaborating with other federal, state, and local agencies, volunteer organizations, and faith-based organizations to assist communities and disaster survivors with emergency recovery planning, disaster assistance programs, and case status updates.”
In terms of future plans, Akindele says learning is at the core of his priorities.
“My future career goal is to become more knowledgeable—to evolve in the right direction and become the best version of myself,” he says.