Since earning her Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at Iowa, alumnus Folasade “Sade” Owolabi (Class of 2002) has had an accomplished career, which has taken her across the country and the world. Employed as a Transportation Planner in Atlanta, Georgia, after graduation, she analyzed, evaluated and recommended various transportation policies and financing schemes for numerous clients, including the state government. In 2011, she joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a Foreign Service Officer, implementing U.S. foreign policy objectives across Africa, Asia and southeast Europe to deepen democratic governance, strengthen the rule of law, expand the effectiveness of local governments and civil society organizations, and mitigate interethnic and ethno-religious conflict.

The beauty and diversity of Iowa’s campus, working as a research assistant and sharing Nigerian wedding traditions in the student drafting room between classes are fond memories Sade recalls of her time in Iowa’s Urban and Regional Planning (URP) program. Here, she developed her written and oral communication skills as well as her ability to perform quantitative and qualitative analytical research. Small class sizes and the opportunity to put theory into practice by recommending solutions to actual problems around the region evolved the focused mindset she would use later in her career.

Recognizing the importance of understanding the intersections between the executive and legislative branches of government, Sade is currently completing a one-year fellowship in the U.S. House of Representatives responding to constituents’ needs, conducting congressional oversight of federal agencies and mitigating human rights and global democracy issues. Sade states that understanding how Congress works and what drives Members’ actions has been invaluable. It has enabled her to build relationships that will enhance USAID’s fiscal appropriations and flexibility for targeted and impactful programming. In doing so, she continues on the path laid out in advice given to her by the late Professor David Forkenbrock, which she still passes on to others. “Your first job following the program will not be your last. Accept that first job, learn and grow from it and seek the next opportunity.”

Sade holds a PhD in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University and completed her undergraduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa.