Elemo, Olufunmbi

Olufunmbi “Funmbi” M. Elemo is a sixth year Ph.D. student in the Department of political science at Michigan State University (MSU).  Originally from Nigeria and Maryland, she earned a B.A. (magna cum laude) in political science and sociology from Ball State University in 2006, followed by her M.A. in political science from MSU in 2009.   Olufunmbi has recently held research fellowships with the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute, Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program, the Graduate Institute of International Studies (Geneva, Switzerland), and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (Washington DC).  She has also served as a Teaching Assistant for courses on International Relations and Comparative Politics and a Research Assistant with the AfroBarometer Public Opinion Project and Michigan Policy Network.  Focusing on comparative politics and public policy, Olufunmbi’s research interests include political relationships between elected officials and citizens, political efficacy, and public service delivery in Africa.  She recently returned from conducting fieldwork in Nigeria (October 2010 - July 2011), including original interviews with Nigerian state and national legislators and archival research at the Central Bank of Nigeria. She remains committed to producing research that speaks to both policy-makers and academics.