Oluwatoyin Asojo is a graduate of Pearson College UWC, Canada. She completed her undergraduate studies at Trent University and received her PhD in chemistry from the University of Houston.
How did you reach where you are today?
I am currently an educator and researcher and the IB diploma was one of the first steps in my life-long education journey. My career focuses on multi-disciplinary research and connecting ideas and projects within seemingly separate academic disciplines, I am also constantly seeking ways to innovate in education and research.
“My IB education at Pearson College UWC challenged me to use education to proffer solutions for real-world issues.”
After Pearson College UWC I pursued a liberal arts undergraduate degree and received a BSc in Chemistry and Economics and I followed this with a PhD in Chemistry. My research focuses on developing therapeutics and vaccines for diseases of the underserved. While science continues to advance at a great pace, a large portion of the world is left behind and there remains a need to develop new interventions and approaches to address their needs.
Why did you originally decide to pursue an IB diploma?
I was accepted on a full scholarship to Pearson College UWC in 1987, which offers the IB diploma. Prior to attending Pearson, I knew almost nothing about the IB diploma and I soon learned that it was a comprehensive multi-disciplinary academic program, which offered me experiential learning and critical thinking skills within a rigorous academic program.
"I learned how to view education as an opportunity to examine local and global issues."
The IB challenged me to think about academic subjects in a holistic way. I learned how to view education as an opportunity to examine local and global issues. My IB education at Pearson College challenged me to use education to proffer solutions for real-world issues and I have continued on this path throughout my career as an educator and researcher.
Which of your IB teachers inspired you most?
The academic subjects I studied for my diploma were physics HL (higher level), chemistry HL, English A HL, mathematics HL, philosophy SL (standard level), French B SL and theory of knowledge (TOK). In my first year, I briefly took biology HL but the course load interfered with my community service and creative endeavors so I dropped biology. All my IB teachers were inspirational, and the most memorable was Suzanne Tremblay, who taught philosophy. Suzanne introduced philosophy and gave me the opportunity to examine philosophy concepts and logic in a creative way. Although my initial focus was science/pre-med, I did my extended essay in philosophy.
