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 2025-26 academic school year.

“I cried, to be honest,” Chinkondenji said. "Initially, 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 master's degree in health and human performance with an option in 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 can have discussion sections and work with different kinds of people.

"It’s just been amazing.”

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

While furthering her education at OSU, Chinkondenji focused her research on sexual and reproductive health among women and girls. In 2023, devastation 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 that Chinkondenji received the prestigious fellowship came as no surprise to Rachel Shreffler, the course instructor for whom Chinkondenji is a graduate teaching assistant. Shreffler said Chinkondenji’s academic drive sets her apart from her peers.

“She’s one of those people who 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 deserves this fellowship.”

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