Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim is a distinguished academic and gender specialist, serving as an Associate Professor at the Institute for Gender Research and Documentation (INGRADOC) at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. As of 2022, she holds the position of Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the same institution, reflecting her extensive contributions to academia, gender advocacy, and social research.

Dr. Ibrahim earned her Ph.D. in English Studies from Illinois State University in 2006, where she also obtained a Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations and Intercultural Communication from Illinois State University (1993), and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria (1986). Her academic journey and her commitment to women’s rights have shaped her research and leadership roles.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ibrahim has held numerous leadership positions, including Assistant-Deputy Vice Chancellor at Fourah Bay College from 2018 to 2022, Director of INGRADOC (2010-2015), and President of The 50/50 Group in Sierra Leone (2013-2016). She has also served as an adjunct professor at Carleton University, Ottawa, and has been a visiting research fellow at prestigious institutions like The North-South Institute in Canada.

Dr. Ibrahim’s research spans several key areas, including women’s political participation, post-conflict state-building, and gender justice. She has co-led numerous international research projects, including studies on teenage pregnancy, community-based justice services, and women’s livelihoods in artisanal mining. Her work has been funded by organizations such as the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Ibrahim is an active voice in civil society, serving on boards such as Africa Young Voices Communications, the Rainbo Initiative for survivors of gender-based violence, and the Institute for Governance Reform in Sierra Leone. Her deep involvement in gender advocacy is complemented by her numerous publications, including policy briefs, academic papers, and research consultancy reports, positioning her as a leading figure in advancing gender equity and social justice in Sierra Leone and beyond.