Afabwaje Jatau credits who she is to her Christian upbringing and Nigerian roots. Both of these influences have been instrumental in shaping her perspective on life. Afabwaje feels that being an ethnic minority gives her unique insights into the impact that race and culture have on the health and quality of life of individuals.

After graduating from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a degree in zoology, Afabwaje worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on a community-wide improvement project designed to help pediatric practices improve care for those with ADHD. This project served as Afabwaje’s introduction to evaluation and ultimately influenced her to continue her education. In 2008, she earned her M.P.H. degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health with a focus on health behavior and health education.

Upon receiving her M.P.H., Afabwaje broadened her research experience by accepting a position with the Duke University Medical Center as a study coordinator on a clinical research trial. Her research experience also includes a graduate summer practicum which involved a qualitative assessment of a pregnancy prevention program serving ethnic minority youth. Afabwaje’s evaluation contributed to the program expanding its services to address issues of body image and self-esteem.

All of the above have contributed to Afabwaje’s evaluation education. These lessons have equipped her with the ability to identify weaknesses in organizational structure, including sustainable resource development. As well, Afabwaje’s education and experience in measuring program outcomes has served to increase her passion for evaluation for the purpose of improving human services for ethnic minorities and low-income families.

Afabwaje recognizes that evaluation is critical to program development and sustainability, and hopes that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evaluation Fellowship Program will provide her with the training, skills, and knowledge to effectively address the challenges that nonprofit organizations face when attempting to impact the health and quality of life of underserved populations.