As Director, Bunmi oversees Bloomberg CityLab and leads efforts to engage city leaders from around the world. Her expertise lies at the intersection of international relations and organization management, where she has excelled in government, non-profit, and higher education. Prior to Aspen Institute, Bunmi was the Deputy Director of the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program at Howard University, a Department of State funded program that diversifies foreign policy and international affairs sectors. Her career in Washington began in the Obama Administration as Special Assistant in the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There, Bunmi supported the agency’s engagement with G7 nations, participated in outreach efforts during the Flint water crisis, and led efforts to clear the backlog of civil rights cases impacting marginalized communities. She was also the Chief of Staff at Young Professionals in Foreign Policy and managed the US delegation to the G7 and G20 Youth Summits and modernized the organization’s fundraising and operations platforms. In 2017, Bunmi launched a foreign policy podcast called, “What in the World?” which made foreign policy relevant to everyday people and amplifies experts of color. Bunmi has humble beginnings as an AmeriCorps volunteer and fundraiser for the YWCA Chicago and United Way Chicago.
Bunmi brings a wealth of knowledge in foreign policy/national security and program and fellowship management. She is passionate about mentoring early career professionals, working in collaborative environments, and using the creative space to elevate issues and transformative solutions. Bunmi remains involved in several leading foreign policy communities including Truman National Security, International Career Advancement Program (ICAP 22’), and the National Endowment for Democracy’s Penn Kemble Fellowship. Bunmi graduated from Columbia University SIPA (MPA, Urban Policy), Illinois State University (MA, Sociology), and Bryant University (BSBA, Computer Info Systems). She was born and raised in Rhode Island to Nigerian parents, is the eldest of five (and the only girl!) and is a former D2 collegiate athlete (volleyball). When she isn’t working, Bunmi enjoys boxing, short hikes, listening to Nina Simone, creating podcasts, volunteering with her church, and anything made of red velvet.
