Ojooluwa Ibiloye, a Nigerian doctoral student in Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware, has been elected president of the Biden School Student Association (BSSA) for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. The election concluded on Monday, with results announced yesterday by the academic support coordinator at the Biden School, Monica Esterling. “We were excited to see you step up to represent your peers and improve the student experience at the Biden School,” Esterling said in her official remarks following the announcement.
Ibiloye, a Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Graduate Fellow, will lead the association representing students across three undergraduate majors, six master’s programs, and four doctoral programs at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. The BSSA serves as the official bridge between the student body and school administration, advocating for students’ academic and professional interests.
In his victory speech, Ibiloye emphasized the collective values of service and leadership. “We will build a more connected community that reflects our commitment to service, leadership, and learning,” he said. “I am grateful for the trust students have placed in me, and I look forward to working alongside the executive board to deliver on that trust.”
His agenda includes launching a quarterly, student-led policy dialogue series, strengthening engagement with alumni and policy practitioners, and instituting a Student of the Month initiative to recognize academic and professional achievements. He also proposed an Academic and Cultural Exchange Week to honor the breadth of knowledge and experiences that enrich the student community.
At the University of Delaware, Ibiloye previously served as secretary of the institution’s chapter of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). He has also completed advanced leadership training through the Mandela Washington Fellowship of the U.S. Department of State and the McCain Fellowship for Freedom administered by the International Republican Institute (IRI).
His election continues a longstanding record of student leadership. Before beginning his doctoral studies in the United States, Ibiloye served as secretary of the Political Science Student Association at the University of Abuja and as a senator in the Federation of Ogbomoso Students Union. During his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Jos South, Plateau State, he led a community development service group and coordinated an anti-corruption education campaign targeting youth in local schools.
Ibiloye’s achievement adds to the growing list of Nigerians distinguishing themselves on the global stage. His rise to student leadership in one of America’s leading public policy schools reflects the strong tradition of academic excellence, democratic commitment, and leadership capacity that many Nigerians continue to demonstrate abroad.
“The Biden School’s mission calls us to serve and to lead with civic virtues and democratic values,” Ibiloye said. “This moment is about reaffirming that mission by ensuring every student has a voice in shaping our shared future.”
With his election, the BSSA enters a new term of student-centered leadership rooted in public service. Colleagues describe Ibiloye’s leadership style as collaborative, principled, and forward-looking.
“Ojooluwa brings a civically engaged mindset and a real passion for empowering every student to lead. There’s a lot of optimism about what this new chapter will bring,” said fellow doctoral student Joe Oleksak.
The Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, named for the 46th president of the United States, is ranked among the top 30 public affairs schools in the 2026 edition of Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report. With Ibiloye at the helm of the BSSA, students say they anticipate a term marked by humility, purpose, and impact.
