The professional achievements of Nneka RitaMarie Obasi as a nonprofit administrator stem from her upbringing. As a survivor of a war in her childhood, she always remembers the charitable organizations that risked their lives to help her people. Grateful to have parents who were both teachers and placed an emphasis on education, she carries with her the belief that education is a privilege and a means to transform lives.
Ms. Obasi never took her own education for granted. She attended the University of Nigeria, earning a Bachelor of Arts in French and German, and graduated from St. Xavier University in 2004 with a Master of Arts in education. In 2012, she earned Master of Science in nonprofit management from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. Committed to furthering her education and taking advantage of the opportunities available to her, Ms. Obasi is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in education and curriculum studies at DePaul University, which she plans to complete in 2024.
Since 2021, Ms. Obasi has been an executive board member of Building Peaceful Bridges, a nonprofit organization in Illinois that fosters multicultural relationships between people of all faiths and backgrounds. With the same organization, she serves as the coordinator of the Bridge to Belongings Program. Employing her diverse background and linguistic education, she has found additional success as a freelance interpreter with Bridges for Language since 2016. As a committed member of her community and advocate for educational opportunity, Ms. Obasi made contributions as a member of the school board for the Illinois Community Consolidated School District 180 from 2013 to 2016.
Ms. Obasi’s professional experience has included working with the United Nations, Nexus Alliance Limited, and International Aid. She garnered early experience as a facilitator with the Chicago Public Schools refugee office from 2006 to 2009 and as an administrator with 100 Igbos USA Inc. from 2008 to 2012. She was the owner and chief executive officer of ILe Afrika from 2006 to 2012 and worked as a program manager for Mercy Housing from 2017 to 2018. For her commitment to civic action and nonprofit leadership, Ms. Obasi has been recognized with an award for citizenship. For her own edification and contributions, she maintains memberships with 100 Igbos USA Inc. and the American Educational Research Association, among other organizations.