Cliff Richards Memorial Student Activist Award for Students Attending a Historically Black College or University
Oluwaseye
Morgan State University
Oluwaseye is a dedicated student pursuing a bachelor of science degree in biology while maintaining a stellar 4.0 GPA. Having earned an associate degree from the Community College of Baltimore County, she has further enriched her academic experience through participation in the Summer Premedical Academic Enrichment Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. There, Oluwaseye honed her skills in scientific writing, public speaking and collaborative learning. Her research has focused on critical issues like racial disparities in maternal health and the mental health of Black women during the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting her passion for addressing societal inequities through science.
Oluwaseye’s secular identity is deeply intertwined with her commitment to scientific rationality, human-centered ethics, and a rejection of supernatural explanations. She arrived at secularism through a careful examination of evidence and reason, believing that empirical knowledge should guide decisions, particularly in science and medicine. This secular outlook informs her approach to her studies, her activism and her community engagement, where she advocates for evidence-based solutions that promote well-being and equality.
As a Black woman in STEM, Oluwaseye’s identity intersects with her secularism in profound ways. Her experiences navigating systemic challenges and biases have heightened her awareness of social justice issues, inspiring her to advocate for marginalized communities. This intersectionality fuels her commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within both the scientific and secular communities.
Oluwaseye’s activism extends beyond STEM. She is actively involved with the Students Open to Unique Love (SOUL) organization and the NAACP, where she advocates for LGBTQ-plus rights and civil rights. As president of the Women in Pre-Med Chapter at Morgan State and vice president of mentorship at the Student Research Center, she has organized initiatives to support women in science and promote diversity in research. This academic year, Oluwaseye plans to expand her outreach efforts, particularly targeting underrepresented groups in STEM. She aims to mentor high school students, organize workshops on navigating academic challenges and highlight the contributions of diverse scientists. Additionally, her collaboration with the Secular Student Alliance aligns with her goal of promoting scientific literacy, ethical reasoning and the separation of church and state. By championing secular values, Oluwaseye hopes to foster a more inclusive, evidence-based, and humanistic society.
FFRF thanks the estate of Cliff Richards for this scholarship for HBCU students.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with 40,000 members across the country. Our purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
The Secular Student Alliance is the only national organization dedicated to atheist, humanist, and other nontheist students. It empowers secular students to proudly express their identity, build welcoming communities, promote secular values, and set a course for lifelong activism.
