Our faculty
Our faculty are practicing Babaláwo, Ìyánífá, and Òrìṣà priests with decades of experience in both the academy and the sacred grove.
Administration
Babaláwo (Ifá Priest). Full Professor of Philosophy, Howard University. Ph.D. (Philosophy of Science) London School of Economics and Political Science. Ph.D. (Law of Evidence) University of Birmingham. LLB (Laws) LSE. B.A. (Philosophy) Ọbáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀ University, Nigeria. Founder, Ifá University and the Òrìṣà Spiritual Assembly.
Faculty in the United States
Ìyálórìṣà (Ọbàtálá Priestess). M.A. (Film) New York University. B.A. Stanford University.
Iya Ifabola (Iyánífá/Ifá Priestess). M.D. Howard University College of Medicine. PMR Fellowship, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. PMR Residency, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. Diplomate, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (1987). Diplomate, American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (2023). Licensure: Pennsylvania, Maryland.
Bokor (Iyánífá/Ifá Priestess). Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (CCI). Certification (CVT), Washington Hospital Center School of Cardiovascular Science. Certification (Healing Touch I, II), Healing Touch International. Certification (Raw Food Nutrition and Preparation), Sunfired Foods & Living Foods Institute. B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (Adv. Soc. Sci.), Catholic University of America.
Ìyálórìṣà (Yemọja Priestess). Ed.D. (Educational Leadership), Virginia Commonwealth University. M.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, VCU. Graduate Degree for Teaching Certification, VCU. B.A. (English and African-American Studies), VCU.
Babaláwo (Ifá Priest). Ph.D. (Political Science) Howard University, Washington, DC. B.A. (Political Science) Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Iyánífá (Ifá Priestess). Ph.D. (Anthropology of the African Diaspora) The University of Texas-Austin. M.A. (Anthropology) The University of Texas-Austin. B.F.A. (Documentary Film) The Art Institute of Chicago.
Ph.D. (Rhetoric and Linguistics), Indiana University of Pennsylvania. MS.Ed. (Educational-TESOL), Long Island University. M.A. (Rhetoric and Composition), Long Island University. B.A. (Theater Arts and English), Clark University.
Babaláwo (Ifá Priest). Business Management, University of Maryland (US Army), Munich Campus. Certificate in Medical Laboratory Science, United States Army Academy of Science, TX. B.S. Biology, Knoxville College, TN.
Ìyálórìṣà (Ọya Priestess). J.D. Cleveland State University. B.S. (Education), Cleveland State University. B.A. (Psychology), Cleveland State University. Licensure: Supreme Court of the United States of America (2009). U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio (1999). Ohio Bar (1999).
Ìyálórìṣà (Olókun Priestess). Herbal Apprenticeship, Wild Ginger Herbal Center, MD. Herbal Apprenticeship, Sky House Herb School, MD.
Babalórìṣà (Ọbàtálá Priest). M.S. (Clinical Mental Health Counseling), Capella University. Certification as Organic Farmer & Rancher, Future Harvest–Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. B.S. (Psychology), Capella College. A.S. (Graphic Design), Gibbs College.
Babaláwo (Ifá Priest). Ph.D. (Global African Religions), University of Georgia. MBA (Finance), University of New Orleans. BGS (English, Culture and Ethnic Studies), University of New Orleans.
Ph.D. (African Languages), University of South Africa, Pretoria. M.A. (Yorùbá Literature), University of Ìlọrin, Nigeria. M.A. (Communications Arts), University of Ìbàdàn, Nigeria. B.A. (Yorùbá Language), University of Ifẹ̀, Nigeria.
Babaláwo (Ifá Priest). M.S. (Computer Science and Engineering), University of South Florida. M.A. (Educational Leadership), Clark Atlanta University.
Babaláwo (Ifá Priest). DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), Howard University. License State: DC. B.S. (Computer Science), University of Kansas.
Iyánífá (Ifá Priestess). M.S. (Acupuncture), Tri State College of Acupuncture, NY. B.A. (History and Education), Howard University.
Iyánífá (Ifá Priestess). Ph.D. (Urban/Public Affairs Administration), University of Texas, Arlington. M.A. (Urban Affairs), University of Texas, Arlington. B.A. (Psychology), University of Texas, Arlington.
Instructors and Team Leaders in Nigeria
Registrar and Coordinator, Ifá Heritage Institute, Ọ̀yọ́, Nigeria. M.A. (Yorùbá Literature), University of Ìbàdàn. B.A. (Yorùbá), University of Ìbàdàn.
Ẹlẹ́gùn Ọya (Head Priestess of Ọya) of Ọ̀yọ́ Kingdom and Herbology Practitioner. Baàṣègùn of Ọyọ́ Kingdom (President/Leader of the Indigenous Medical Practitioners Association of Ọyọ́ Kingdom). Professor of Yorùbá Medicine. Ifá Heritage Institute, Ọ̀yọ́, Nigeria.
Baàṣègùn of Ọyọ́ Kingdom (President/Leader of the Indigenous Medical Practitioners Association of Ọyọ́ Kingdom). Professor of Yorùbá Medicine. Ifá Heritage Institute, Ọ̀yọ́, Nigeria.
The Ẹ̀kẹrin Awo of Ọ̀yọ́ Kingdom. Babaláwo (4th Highest Ranking Ifá Priest of Ọyọ́ Kingdom) and Herbology Practitioner. Instructor, Ifá Heritage Institute, Ọ̀yọ́, Nigeria.
Professor of Yorùbá Medicine, University of Ìbàdàn, Nigeria. Ph.D. Yorùbá Belief and Healing Systems, University of Ìbàdàn. M.A. African Studies, University of Ìbàdàn. B.A. Islamic Studies, University of Ìbàdàn.
Growing team
Additional faculty profiles will be added as the university expands. We are actively recruiting scholars and practitioners across all four degree programs.