ANUOLUWAPO (ANU) OGUNLEYE, PH.D.
anu.ogunleye@enmu.edu | 575-562-2526 | Portales, New Mexico | www.ogunleyesashlab.com
SUMMARY
An Assistant Professor whose research addresses soil health and sustainable cropping systems in semi-arid environments, and whose outreach centers on food security and youth education in rural communities. Background includes direct classroom teaching, research, and agricultural extension work with youth and farmers in Nigeria, as well as current leadership of K-12-focused community engagement in crop production and soil health, undergraduate and graduate research in New Mexico, USA. Dr. Ogunleye integrates research, teaching, and service programs, including free organic food distribution from her research field (over 47,000 pounds distributed to date), with a focus on food security, youth engagement, and development in agricultural and rural settings.
EDUCATION
● MBA, Eastern New Mexico University (expected May 2027)
● Ph.D., Environmental Sciences and Health, University of Nevada, Reno (2022)
● M.Sc., Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria (2012)
● B.Sc., Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria (2008)
STUDENT/YOUTH/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCE
Pioneer, Agriculture, Outdoor Education | Eastern New Mexico University (2026 to present)
● Partnered with regional rural K-12 schools so agriculture students could teach elementary-aged children sustainable methods for growing their own food.
● Launched Agricultural Family Fun Day Pioneer, Feed the Hounds Initiative | Eastern New Mexico University (2025 to present)
● Grew and distributed more than 47,000 pounds of free, organically grown produce to the ENMU, Portales, and Clovis communities.
● Connected campus agricultural research to community food security, wellness, and youth education.
Judge, Student Research and Scholarship Competitions | ENMU and national conferences (2023 to 2025)
● Judge, Student Research and Creativity Conference (SRCC), ENMU, 2024 and 2025.
● Judge, foundation scholarships and NM District Shake Gauntlet, ENMU, 2025.
● Judge, student competitions, ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Conference, St. Louis, MO, 2023.
Mentor, Founding President, African Student Association | University of Nevada, Reno (2022).
Founding President, Graduate Student Association, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Science | University of Nevada, Reno (2022).
Head Teacher | Funtouch Kids' International, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria (2012 to 2015)
● Taught Agriculture and Science and oversaw the performance of other teachers.
● Planned and prepared students and teachers for academic competitions and school events.
Extension Agent | Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dutse, Nigeria (2008 to 2009)
● Disseminated information on new agricultural practices to farmers across Jigawa State.
● Administered fertilizer allocation and grant disbursement on behalf of local governments.
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
Assistant Professor of Agriculture | Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico (2023 to present)
● Develop curriculum and teach courses offered in person and online.
● Conduct research in crop production and soil health, including grant writing and conference presentations.
● Lead community involvement efforts that bridge community members and the institution.
● Engage in the scholarship of teaching by fostering scientific curiosity in undergraduate students.
Adjunct Professor | Clovis Community College, Clovis, New Mexico (2025 to present).
· Teach “Introduction to Plant Science and Labs.” Online.
Postdoctoral Scholar | New Mexico State University, Agricultural Science Center, Clovis, New Mexico (2023)
● Evaluated effects of cover crops on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, soil microbial community and diversity, and overall soil health.
● Researched cropping system rotations, soil health, and forage biomass production and nutrition.
● Planned one of the first New Mexico Carbon conferences in Albuquerque.
● Supervised and guided graduate students.
Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant | College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, University of Nevada, Reno (2019 to 2022)
● Researched cover crop system impacts on soil health, carbon sequestration, forage biomass, and forage nutrition.
● Summer research intern, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory: collected sorghum and corn field data and supported plant breeding crosses at the Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center, UC Davis.
● Summer research technician, Environmental Tomography & Emerging Technologies Laboratory: collected data on a variable rate irrigation experiment using TDRs, drones, terrestrial laser scanners, and ground-penetrating radar.
Farm Manager | Holy Brooks Farms and Foods, Lagos, Nigeria (2016 to 2019)
● Directed and coordinated planting, harvesting, irrigation, and chemical application activities.
● Held a weekly mentoring program for junior farm staff and conducted on-farm grafting research across orange varieties.
Project Secretary | Ministry of Works, Lagos State, Nigeria (2010 to 2012)
● Prepared progress reports on the Mile 12-Ikorodu road rehabilitation as a personal assistant to the Chief Engineer on-site.
PUBLICATIONS
Ogunleye, A. M., Opoku, A., Solomon, J. K., & Payne, W. (2023). Cool-season cover crop effects on forage productivity and short-term soil health in a semi-arid environment. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 38, e26.
Opoku, A., Ogunleye, A. M., Solomon, J. K., & Payne, W. A. (2024). Cover crop systems impact on biomass production, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, forage quality, and soil health in a semi-arid environment. Heliyon, 10(20).
Ogunleye, A. M. (2022). Semiarid Land Sustainable Agricultural Practices: The Evaluation of Annual Cover Cropping Systems Influence on Forage Productivity and Short-Term Soil Health Impact. University of Nevada, Reno.
Solomon, J. K., Opoku, A., & Ogunleye, A. M. (2026). Genotype-specific nitrogen requirements overpower seeding density effects for irrigated fiber hemp in a high-elevation semi-arid climate. Industrial Crops and Products, 249, 123693.
Acharya, P., Ogunleye, A., Marsalis, M. A., Bell, J. M., & Ghimire, R. (2025). Enhancing forage production and quality under resource-limited conditions by alfalfa–bermudagrass interseeding. Agronomy Journal, 117(5), e70174.
Solomon, J. K., Opoku, A., & Ogunleye, A. M. (2025). Nitrogen fertilizer requirements of silage maize and sorghum–sudangrass grown after 4 years of alfalfa production in a semi-arid environment. Grassland Research, 4(3), 194-208.
Ogunleye, A., Thapa, V. R., Aryal, D. R., Ghimire, R., & Acosta-Martinez, V. (2023). Microbial community response to cover cropping varied with time after termination. Agricultural & Environmental Letters, 8(2), e20118.
GRANTS AND FUNDING
Received:
● Co-Principal Investigator, Nutritional Characterization of Major Food Crops in Nigeria and Ghana. Award #SUSMAF22IN0005. $40,000 (2022-2023).
● Principal Investigator, Faculty Research and Instructional Development (FRID), Eastern New Mexico University. $3,747 (2023-2024).
● Co-Principal Investigator, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute Student Water Research Grant. $7,500 (2024-2025).
● Principal Investigator, Faculty Research and Instructional Development (FRID), Eastern New Mexico University. $3,412 (2025-2026).
Submitted, denied funding:
● Principal Investigator, Dry-Land Farming Initiative in Eastern New Mexico. National Science Foundation. $2,247,513.
● Principal Investigator, Ecotoxicological and Agronomic Implications of Nanopesticides in Agro-Aquatic Interfaces in Semi-Arid Ecosystems. NM-INBRE. $54,250.
● Principal Investigator, Cultivating Local Solutions: An Integrated Approach to Improve Food Security and Nutrition in Eastern New Mexico. Pending: USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011134, Amount: $967,937.
● Principal Investigator, Pathways to Success: Undergraduate Research Assistantships in Soil, Plant, Animal, and Agricultural Education, USDA-NIFA-AFRI-EWD, Amount: $633,409.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
● NMACTE Conference, Las Cruces, NM (2026).
● CANVAS Conference, Salt Lake City, UT (2025).
● ACTE Region IV Conference, Oklahoma City, OK (2025).
● ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Conference, poster presenter (2024).
● International Union of Soil Scientists Centennial Conference, Florence, Italy, presenter (2024).\
● Professional Development Conference, Mescalero, NM, presenter (2024).
● American Society of Agronomy Conference, virtual, presenter (2024).
● AAMA Imaging Africa's Food Systems Conference, virtual (2023).
● ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Conference, oral presenter (2023).
● Washington SoilCon, virtual (2023).
● NCAT Soil Health Innovations Conference (2021 and 2022).
● Graduate Leadership Conference, Salt Lake City, UT (2021).
● ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Conference, poster presenter (2020 and 2021).
● REGENERATE Conference, HERD Fellowship (2020 and 2021).
SERVICE
● Vice President, United Way of Eastern New Mexico. (2026 to date)
● Member, HLC Criterion Committee 2, Eastern New Mexico University (2026).
● Grant reviewer and volunteer, United Way of Eastern New Mexico (2025-2026).
● Proxy Senate Representative, Eastern New Mexico University (2025).
● Perkins Agricultural Advisory Board (2025 to date).
● Committee member, Faculty Personnel Policy and Handbook Committee, ENMU.
● Content lead, College of Education and Technology Newsletter, ENMU (2024 to date).
● Presenter, Black History Month, Multicultural Affairs, ENMU (2024).
● Presenter, Women's History Month, Multicultural Affairs, ENMU (2024).
● Presenter, "Foods of the World," Food Science Department, ENMU (2023, 2026).
● Grant reviewer, The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (2024).
● Judge, ENMU Fulbright-Hays GPA Project (2024).
● Founding president, African Student Association, University of Nevada, Reno. (2022-2023).
● Council member, Graduate Student Association, University of Nevada, Reno.
JOURNAL REVIEWER
● Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
● Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
● Discover Forests
● Soil Science Society of America Journal
● Journal of Research in Agriculture and Food Sciences
● Springer Nature
MEMBERSHIPS
● Board Member, Roosevelt County-United Way of Eastern New Mexico (2025).
● Perkins Agricultural Advisory Board Member (2025 to date).
● The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) (2024 to date).
● American Society of Agronomy (2019 to date).
● The Crop Science Society of America (2019 to date).
● The Soil Science Society of America (2019 to date).
● New Agrarian, Quivira Coalition (2022).
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
● Inspiring Mentor Award, NM EPSCoR (2026) $150
● Early Career Award, Land Management and Conservation-ASA CSSA SSSA. (2026).
● Fellow, Environmental Education of New Mexico (2025-2026). $1,500
● Best Online Course, College of Education and Technology (Spring 2025).
● Honorable Listee, Marquis Who's Who (2023).
● Honorable Mention, Poster Presentation, Graduate Student Association Poster Competition (2021).
● Graduate Leadership Award, ASA-CSSA-SSSA (2021).
● Best Graduate Student Award, Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (2012).
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
● 30-Hour General Industry Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Labor. Credential ID 32-900504918 (2021).
● RCRA in Day-to-Day Operations, Environmental Protection Agency (2020).
MEDIA FEATURE/MENTION
● TV interview, KENW-PBS, "Now You Know."
https://youtu.be/6DmBiycxZpY?si=RuLLAaTbc7iQnVd2
https://youtu.be/08n81KgOSjw?si=Sa4TdEN6yMQIau0U
https://youtu.be/5CFbu8qXFLU?si=J17Q1iM3-XUE0VIF
● Newspaper feature, The News-Eastern New Mexico, "Assistant Professor Shares Journey" (2024).
● Newspaper cover feature, The News-Eastern New Mexico, "Gardener Feeding Hounds Community" (2025).
● ENMU Magazine feature
https://www.enmu.edu/silverpack/hound-happenings/stories/3847-study-on-belonging-dr-anu-ogunleye
● Others