About

Director

Dr. Fenda Akiwumi

Office: 
Faculty Office Building
201 USF Willow Drive
Tampa, FL 33620
Phone: 813.974.1684
Fax:      813.974.2427
Email: fakiwumi@usf.edu

Dr. Fenda Akiwumi is an Environmental Geographer and Professor in the Geography, Environmental Science and Policy Program, School of Geosciences. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Geographical Perspectives of Sub-Saharan Africa, Global Conservation, Environmental Thought, and Sustainable Development. Her research engages topics in natural resource extraction and policy such as resource use (sustainable development, sustainable livelihoods, indigenous knowledge systems), and resource problems (equitable distribution, environmental deterioration, conflict, cultural alienation). Cultural diversity is a central theme in her work on the nexus of resource use and environment, governance systems, gender, indigenous people focusing on the importance of socio-culturally sensitive land, mining and water policy and law in Africa. Her research interests also include: African development and Africa-African Diaspora collaborations for development, more broadly; and ethnic geographic education. Professor Akiwumi was co-PI on a number of interdisciplinary grant teams (one NSF, two EPA, and a USF Sustainable Healthy Communities grant) and is currently on a National Geographic grant all addressing environmental and sustainability issues, and integrating cultural perceptions, community education, awareness and involvement.

Professor Akiwumi has co-edited a peer-reviewed book, and published book chapters, and papers in top-tier academic journals such as Antipode, Journal of Cleaner Production, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Habitat International, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, The Extractive Industries and Society, Greener Management International, IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, Cities, Social Indicators Research, and Politics, Groups and Identities. She has presented her work at numerous national and international conferences in the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. From 2008 to 2010, she served as inaugural chair and member of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) Expert Advisory Group on Water and Cultural Diversity convened to develop culturally sensitive methodological guidelines and policy recommendations on mainstreaming cultural diversity into Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Professor Akiwumi is recipient of several awards including the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Kwadwo Konadu-Agyeman Distinguished Scholar Award in African Geography, 2019 and Harm J. de Blij Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Geography Teaching, 2018; National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) Higher Education Distinguished Teaching Award, 2017; USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, 2016-2017; Distinguished Alumna Achievement Award from the College of Liberal Arts, Texas State University, 2016; Distinguished Department of Geography Alumni Award, Texas State University, 2016; and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence in Teaching Award, 1998.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Njoh, Ambe J, Erick Ananga, Ijang B Ngyah-Etchutambe, Faye Ricker, Ramona Madosingh-Hector, Valerie Rizutto, Samrawit Fisseha, Fenda A Akiwumi (2022). The relationship between electricity consumption and improvement in women's welfare in Africa Women's Studies International Forum Volume 90 Pages 102541

Pathak, A, PE van Beynen, FA Akiwumi, KC Lindeman (2021). Impacts of climate change on the tourism sector of a Small Island Developing State: A case study for the Bahamas Environmental Development 37, 100556

Joseph, Ruby, Fenda A. Akiwumi, LaTosha C. Thomas, Angela Vatalaro, Rene Anderson, Richard Briscoe (2021). A Strengths-Based Approach to Addressing Racial and Educational Challenges Impacting Black Students Child & Family Studies College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, University of South Florida.

Sheffield, Sarah L., Meghan L Cook, Victor J Ricchezza, Guizella A Rocabado, Fenda A Akiwumi (2021) Perceptions of scientists held by US students can be broadened through inclusive classroom interventions. Journal of Communications Earth & Environment, Volume 2(1) 1-7.

 Sears, Ruthmae, Gypsy Gallardo, Gwendolyn D Reese, Tim Dutton, Johannes Reichgelt, James P McHale, Fenda Akiwumi, Jabaar Edmond, Michelle Bradham-Cousar, Jalessa Blackshear, Dana Thompson-Dorsey (2021) Examination of Historical and Modern-Day Impact of Structural Racism on the Lives of Black People in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida

Pathak, A, PE van Beynen, FA Akiwumi, KC Lindeman (2021) Climate adaptation within the tourism sector of a small island developing state: A case study from the coastal accommodations subsector in the Bahamas Business Strategy & Development 4 (3), 313-325

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2018). Cultural conundrums in African land governance: Agribusiness in Sierra Leone. Geography Research Forum 37: 37-60.

Van Beynen, Philip.E., Akiwumi, Fenda, Van Beynen, Kaya. M. (2018). A Sustainability Index for Small Island Developing States. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 25(2): 99-116.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. and D’Angelo, Lorenzo (2018). The Sierra Leone rare earth mineral landscape: An old or new frontier? The Extractive Industries and Society. 5(1): 36-43.

Njoh, A.J., Ananga, E.O., Anchang, J.Y., Ayuk-Etang, E.M. and Akiwumi, F.A. (2017). Africa’s triple heritage, land commodification and women’s access to land: Lessons from Cameroon, Kenya and Sierra Leone. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 52(6): 760-779.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2016). Geography and environment of the Yoruba. In Encyclopedia of the Yoruba edited by Toyin Falola and Akintunde Akinyemi. Indiana University Press. ISBN: 978-0-253-02156-4.

Ananga, E.O., Njoh, A.J., Anchang, J.Y. and Akiwumi, F.A. (2016). Participation-related factors influencing performance in four urban-based community-operated water schemes in Kisumu, Kenya. Community Development Journal 52 (2): 319-336.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2015). Analyzing Sierra Leone’s water reform efforts: Law, environment and sociocultural justice. Politics, Groups and Identities 3(4): 655-659.

Estaville, Lawrence E, Edris J. Montalvo, and Fenda A. Akiwumi, eds. (2014). Teaching Ethnic Geography in the 21st Century, Pathways in Geography Series No. 41 (e-book). Washington, DC: National Council for Geographic Education.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2014). Strangers and Sierra Leone mining: Cultural heritage and sustainable development challenges. Journal of Cleaner Production 84: 773-782.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2012). Global incorporation and local conflict: Sierra Leonean mining regions. Antipode. 44 (3): 581-600.

Njoh, Ambe J. and Akiwumi, Fenda (2012). The impact of religion on women empowerment as a millennium development goal in Africa. Social Indicators Research 107 (1): 1-18.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2011). Legacies and challenges in integrating cultural diversity in the Sierra Leone water sector. In B.R. Johnston, L. Hiwasaki, I.J. Klaver, A. Ramos Castillo, V. Strang (eds.), Water, Cultural Diversity & Global Environmental Change: Emerging Trends, Sustainable Futures? pp 270-274. UNESCO/Springer, Netherlands.

Njoh, Ambe J. and Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2011). The impact of colonization on access to improved water and sanitation facilities in African cities. Cities 28 (5):452-460.

Trotz, Maya A., Howard, Joniqua, Thomas, Ken, Omisca, Erlande, Chiu, Hong Ting, Halfhide, Trina, Akiwumi, Fenda, Michael, Ryan, Stuart, Amy L. (2011). Total mercury loadings in sediment from gold mining and conservation areas in Guyana. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 179 (1): 555-573.

Estaville, Lawrence E. Edris J. Montalvo, Fenda A. Akiwumi, Waverly C. Ray, and Niem Tu Huynh. (2010). Teaching geography undergraduate courses: Active learning. In Geography Undergraduate Programs: Pathways to Success. NCGE Pathways Series Online.

Estaville, Lawrence E., Akiwumi, Fenda A. and Montalvo, Edris J. (2009). Ethnic diversity in geography undergraduate programs. Special Issue on Teaching Race, Ethnicity, and Place, Journal of Geography 107 (6): 3-11, 211-219.

Blyden, Nemata and Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2009). A perspective of the African Diaspora in the United States. In John W. Frazier, Joe Darden, and Norah Henry (eds.) The African Diaspora in North America at the Dawn of the 21st Century, pp 93-108. Binghamton, NY: Global Academic Publishing.

Blyden, Bai K. and Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2008). Unrealized potential in Africa. IEEE Power and Energy Magazine 6 (4): 52-58.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. and Butler, David R. (2008). Mining and environmental change in Sierra Leone, West Africa: A remote sensing and hydrogeomorphological study. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 142: 309-318.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2006). Limitations to “indigenous people participation”: Conflict in water use in an African mining economy. In Terje Tvedt and T. Ostigaard (eds.) The World of Water Vol. 3, IWHA Book Series, pp 49-77. U.K: I.B. Taurus.

Akiwumi, Fenda A. (2005). Indigenous people, women and water: The importance of local knowledge in water project planning in an African context. In Jonathan Chenoweth and Juliet Bird (eds.) The Business of Water and Sustainable Development, pp 188-197. U.K.: Greenleaf Publishing.