Innovative and results-driven leader, Dr. Somide possesses excellent analytical, organizational and leadership skills and has consistently achieved outstanding results through an efficient, collaborative management approach. His career in public sector governance, higher education and international development spans over 30 years. Dr. Somide earned his Ph.D. in Political Science (Comparative and International Relations)
from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York at Albany, an M.A. in Government from Eastern Kentucky University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky.

Dr. Somide has held leadership positions at the State University of New York, the largest public higher education system in the United States and the New York State Legislature,
where for over 15 years he successfully delivered innovative programs for the New York State higher education sector. He has held teaching appointments as an adjunct professor at the State University of New York, Albany and Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York.

In addition to his extensive public sector and academic backgrounds, Dr. Somide is also an international development consultant and has participated in capacity building projects in Nigeria and several other countries. His innovative international development works included a sustainable agricultural modernization project in Nigeria delivered in collaboration with Cornell University, USA, which was adopted by USAID-Nigeria as part of its Country’s Markets II project designed to expand economic opportunities for Nigerian farmers. Dr. Somide was also the lead consultant, (later CEO) for the design and establishment of the International Vocational Technical & Entrepreneurship College in Kwara State, Nigeria, which attracted sponsorship collaborations with the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria.