Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ

Oluwateniayo Sopitan, PharmD ’23, is the first graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to be elected to the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Alumni Association Board of Directors. Her term of service began July 1.

She is based in the Philadelphia area. At Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ, Sopitan was a volunteer coach for the women’s volleyball team for two seasons. She served as vice president of the Oncology Pharmacy Student Organization and served on various committees for the pharmacy school's student government. 

Tell us about your professional work/career.
I am a PharmD fellow in the Rutgers University Fellowship program, currently working as a product manager at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. 

What led you to enroll at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ for pharmacy school?
I had not heard of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ before, and I attended the pharmacy school interview on pure instinct. During the interview, I met several pharmacists in unique roles I had never encountered before. These diverse roles opened my eyes to the wide range of possibilities within the pharmacy profession. The impressive careers of these pharmacists greatly influenced my decision to choose Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ.

What interested you about service on the Alumni Association board?
My greatest passion is giving back. I want to inspire students by showing them that someone who looks like me can reach the top. I aim to serve and educate, demonstrating that success in STEM and at major companies is achievable.

Being the first Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ pharmacy school graduate on the board feels incredibly gratifying. I am grateful for the opportunity. I was also honored to be the first Black president of the pharmacy school for all four years. I want to continue being a trailblazer, showing others like me that it is possible to succeed in these spaces.

What Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ experiences were particularly influential or memorable?
One of the most memorable experiences of my academic journey was being a student speaker at the Commencement ceremony. Standing before my peers, professors and family, I felt an immense sense of pride and accomplishment. It was an honor to represent my graduating class and share our collective achievements, challenges and aspirations. The opportunity to reflect on our journey, acknowledge the support of our loved ones and inspire my fellow graduates as we embarked on the next chapter of our lives made this moment truly unforgettable.