Study on Belonging:
Dr. Anu Ogunleye

Abstract

Life Philosophy

Dr. Anuoluwapo "Anu" Ogunleye measures her life by an enduring philosophy: when you are in the right place, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. She says, "If I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, everything would come together." Understanding this journey through the lens of Ogunleye's philosophy will provide others with the knowledge, inspiration, and connection they need to keep seeking a place that truly offers them a sense of belonging, and that place might even be Eastern New Mexico University.

Keywords: life philosophy; inspiration; knowledge; connection; richness of life

1.0 Introduction

How it Started

Ogunleye, a professor of agricultural science at ENMU, discovered her interest in plants around age 14. Fascinated by her neighbor's vibrant golden Ficus garden, she took some clippings and planted them in soil-filled plastic bags outside her childhood home. The first four attempts failed, but on the fifth, about 70% of the plants survived. Though not a formal experiment, she observed their growth over the following weeks. She eventually moved them to the ground in front of her home, where they still grow today.

Ogunleye grew up in a home where giving was second nature. Her mother, whom she describes as her biggest influence, modeled an ethic of service. "Even if she only had 10, she would give away seven or eight," she said. Ogunleye describes her generosity as part of what she sees as a God-given responsibility to give when she can. At times, that belief has also allowed her to accept from others, trusting in reciprocity. This mindset grounded her when the Nigerian school system set her on a path she hadn't initially planned.

In Nigeria, academic specialization begins early. Though Ogunleye had planned to study medicine, she pivoted to the agricultural track because of the program's competitiveness. Rather than feeling discouraged, she embraced the shift, vowing to master the craft. "If I am going to study this, I am going to get all the degrees that there are," she repeated this to herself until she believed it, "I am going to master this craft." She developed an interest in food science and in how agriculture, when combined with public health, can help people around the world, keeping her ethics and interests at the center of her studies.

2.0 Methodology

Materials and Methods

To prove the hypothesis, we follow Dr. Anu Ogunleye's lifetime of choices, belonging, and happiness in knowing she is where she should be. The trusty materials of our voices and human connection were used. Sitting with Ogunleye in the ENMU Golden Student Success Center to test the hypothesis and find the moments in her life that led to the belief in belonging and following her passions.

In the moments that Ogunleye describes as "the feeling of being in the right place, and being on the right path," she notices a settling of the nerves deep in her spine that travels all the way through the doubts in the back of her brain. The feeling of belonging is deeply ingrained in the body, and Ogunleye knows what it feels like for her. When she recognizes the feeling, she knows that the challenges are worth it because she is where she belongs, and anything is possible.

“If I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, everything would come together.”

3.0 Lived Observations

Steps on the Right Path

1. After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in Nigeria, Ogunleye set her sights on a Ph.D. abroad. Canada seemed like a good option since she had some friends and family there, but repeated obstacles such as Graduate Record Examination (GRE) requirements, several visa and admission denials, and higher tuition fees made the process increasingly discouraging. Just as her dream began to feel out of reach, she received an unexpected call from an old friend. The moment she heard her friend's voice, a settling of nerves washed over her. As they talked, the conversation turned to Ph.D. opportunities in the United States, and something clicked. She knew she had to start looking into programs nationwide. After applying to multiple Ph.D. programs across the U.S., Ogunleye ultimately chose the University of Nevada, Reno, feeling it was the right place to begin the next chapter.
2. As her move to the U.S. approached, Ogunleye went to the embassy to secure visas for herself and her two children. Waiting in a single line, she watched officers issue quick denials and quietly hoped to be interviewed by one who seemed to take more time with applicants. Minutes after she prayed to be routed to him, a security officer broke the single-file line and moved her to the front, where she began a new queue with the officer she had hoped for. The interview was brief, and their visas were approved. "That was the beginning of my journey," she says, the feeling of stress and hope in her memory, tugging at a humble smile on her lips.

3. Traveling to the United States with her two children, then ages 3 and 6, Ogunleye navigated a nine-hour layover with restless kids and a mounting concern about how she would cover tuition once she arrived. With no scholarship in place and payment due within the week, she recalls silently praying for help. As passengers were called to board the final flight to Reno, a woman approached and offered to help with her luggage while she managed her children. In conversation, Ogunleye explained that she had been admitted to a Ph.D. program at the University of Nevada, Reno, but had no funding. The woman introduced herself as Jill Heaton, one of UNR's provosts, and handed Ogunleye her business card. "Contact me when you get to Reno," she told her. The next business day, Ogunleye visited Heaton's office. She recalls Heaton introducing her to several administrators, including Dr. David Shintani, explaining that Ogunleye needed funding and assistance as she settled in. Soon after, her tuition balance was reduced to $855 and placed on a three-month payment plan. She was also awarded a paid graduate assistantship and completed her program without taking on student loans. Ogunleye describes the encounter as one of several moments she believes affirmed her decision to continue her studies by faith.
4. Ogunleye turned her attention toward reuniting her family. Her husband remained in Nigeria and originally planned to join them six months later. As the separation stretched on, she purchased an earlier plane ticket and surprised him with the new departure date. He dropped everything and made the move happen within the week. One day after Ogunleye picked him up from the airport, international travel shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She described the timing as divine.
5. Freed from the burden of financial uncertainty and with her family finally reunited, Ogunleye accelerated through her program. She said the opportunities she received, along with a sense of peace and support, allowed her to complete her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Health in 3.5 years instead of the standard 5 years. Her mother traveled from Nigeria to watch her defend her thesis. After the presentation on cover crops, her mother spoke with her about what she had learned. "When you can communicate your science in such a way that a non-science person understands and engages in meaningful conversations, you know that you have done a great job," she said.
6. After graduation, Ogunleye launched an exhaustive nationwide job search, applying to over 60 positions. This persistence led her to New Mexico State University's agricultural research station in Clovis, where she worked for 6 months, until she saw a job opening at ENMU. Her husband was taking graduate classes at ENMU at the time, but she didn't tell him she was interviewing. She was excited about the job prospect but did not want to get her hopes too high. She went through the first rounds of interviews without her husband knowing, but the morning of the second round of the interviews, she called her husband to say, "In case you run into me at your school, I am there for an interview." They both laughed about it. She joined ENMU in August 2023 and has since been an integral member of the Department of Agriculture, Food Science, and Kinesiology.
7. Reflecting on her broader impact, Ogunleye said she wanted to serve her community, drawing from her experience as an international graduate student. She launched the "Feed the Hounds" initiative, distributing more than 20,000 pounds of organically grown produce from an acre of university-provided land. The effort extended beyond ENMU to the Clovis and Portales communities through the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico and included donations to schools in surrounding area during a free pumpkin giveaway. Ogunleye often cites the quote, "we rise by lifting others," by Robert Ingersoll.

“To have someone that is not a scientist understand my work and ask me questions, that is when I know I am doing good.”

4.0 Conclusion

Serenity at Eastern

Marked by uncertainty, redirection, and grace, her path offers proof of what can grow when the conditions are right. She proves that even the smallest acts, when done with intention, can leave something lasting behind.

When Ogunleye sees a need, she fills it. That is her main goal at Eastern. In her first year as a professor at Eastern, Ogunleye faced steep challenges. Student outcomes fell short, and she questioned her effectiveness. But Dr. Kalynn Balduck, Department Chair and mentor, reassured her that she was in the right place and had the support at the university to overcome the challenges she faced.

Ogunleye dove into the work, redesigning courses and creating a classroom environment that students are excited to be a part of. She introduced students to academic research through hands-on learning in Plant and Soil Science and established the Sustainable Agriculture and Soul Health (SASH) Lab. Over time, student engagement grew, and she secured FRID grant funding to include students in research.

With the help of volunteers, including family members, colleagues, students, and friends, she cultivated a one-acre farm. Ogunleye is bringing agricultural knowledge and learning not only to Roosevelt County through the Lil' Hounds Summer Camp, but also to surrounding counties through her proposed Sustainable Agriculture Campaign (SAC), which targets elementary and high schools within a 25–30-mile radius of ENMU.

The obstacles at ENMU didn't make Ogunleye want to quit; they made her want to try harder and find new ways to teach, engage, and explore with our university and our region. Looking back, Ogunleye feels that setbacks are less like obstacles and more like intentional redirections.

For Ogunleye, difficulty is part of growth, but persistent resistance signals misalignment. She describes her approach to uncertainty as one of release, offering her efforts without trying to control the outcome. "Cast my bread upon the waters," she said. "God will do with it what He wants."

Ogunleye has been finding exciting ways to involve and engage our students in their education. When Ogunleye is not teaching college students, she is at home teaching young kids to cook and bake in her purple kitchen or making and designing her and her family's clothing. She engages with our community and follows her faith in belonging here. She is often found with a comforting smile on her face and a welcoming attitude, following her life philosophy that has yet to prove her wrong. Ogunleye said, "The richness of life is not in the quantity of years we have spent, but in the number of lives we have touched." She believes this wholeheartedly.