As a Program Officer, Bola cultivates relationships with leaders and communities of Inatai’s grantee organizations across Washington state. She provides resources and support to organizations building community power and advancing racial justice and equity.

With more than 15 years of experience leading equity and community engagement initiatives at universities in Washington and Oregon, Bola is passionate about increasing access to education. While her various roles have included student recruitment and retention, community engagement, teaching, and equity and inclusion, she most loved working alongside student leaders as they found their voice and passion for social justice.

For nearly four years, Bola served as the Executive Director of Palau Conservation Society, a national NGO in her birthplace, the Republic of Palau, to support Indigenous knowledge and community-based solutions to address environmental challenges.

Bola has been a Washington State resident for nearly two decades. She earned her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of Oregon. Bola’s kids keep her busy and she loves sharing the beauty of her Pacific Islander, Nigerian, and Black communities with them.