With academic determination and a sea of supporters behind her, Ph.D. student Alinafe Chinkondenji, is paving the way for public health research.

In addition to her academic success at Oklahoma State University, Chinkondenji was awarded the American Association of University Women International Fellowship for the 2025 - 2026 academic school year.

“I cried to be honest,” Chinkondenji said. “Initally I was put on a waitlist, but they loved my project and research. They told me, ‘We will do whatever it takes, whatever we can to make sure if we have funds we give them to you.’”

The prestigious award provided Chinkondenji with $25,000 to support her research in female sexual and reproductive health. Chinkondenji said the fellowship helped her in various ways including paying for school, purchasing materials and supporting her family.

“As an international student, it was the biggest financial support I have received since I’ve been in America,” she said. “The funds helped me in a couple of areas like professionally, academically and personally.”

Chinkondenji has been an active member of the OSU and Stillwater community since earning her masters degree in health and human performance with an option health promotion. Her draw to Stillwater, Oklahoma, stemmed from her older sister's leap of faith when she came to the United States to further her graduate education.

Chinkendenji said her connections and time at OSU pushed her to continue her Ph.d in OSU’s Community Health Sciences program.

“The faculty is very supportive,” she said. “Even working with the students as a graduate teaching assistant I am able to have discussion sections and work with different kinds of people.

It’s just been amazing.”

Notably, Chinkondenji’s motivation to public health began long before she earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Livingstonia in Malawi. Prior to obtaining her bachelor’s degree, Chinkondeji worked as a clinical officer with a diploma in clinical medicine. The approximately 3-year program helped jumpstart her ambitions of bridging the gap between clinical application and academic research.

While furthering her education at OSU, Chinkondenji dedicated her efforts to researching sexual and reproductive health among women and girls. In 2023, devestation hit Chinkondenji’s home country of Malawi after a tropical cyclone and flooding resulted in the deaths of at least 499 individuals, according to the International Organization of Migration.

Chinkondenji said this experience helped her realize where her interests lie as a public health professional.

“My No. 1 goal is getting into academia, so I want to mentor more future public health professionals and teach different topics and sections of protective health,” she said. “I also want to research more and learn how to apply that research into the communities we are serving.”

Learning Chinkondenji received the prestigious fellowship came as no surprise to her academic adviser, Rachel Shreffler. Shreffler said Chinkondenji’s academic drive sets her apart from her peers.

“She’s one of those people that is so extremely intelligent, but she would make you feel like the smartest person in the room,” Shreffler said. “There are not enough good things I could say about Alinafe and why I think she deserved this fellowship.”

Story By: Annie Ross | annie.ross@okstate.edu