OBIDIMMA O. OKOBI ’98

OBIDIMMA O. OKOBI, an educator who was a school principal in addition to being a mentor, motivational speaker, and outreach coordinator, died Apr. 3, 2017. She was 40. After receiving her degree in art with an interest in architectural history, she received a master’s degree in urban studies from Southern Connecticut State University, certification in elementary education from John Hopkins University, and a master’s degree in school leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She was the principal of City Neighbors Hamilton School, in the Baltimore City public schools, and had also worked in various capacities in schools in the Baltimore area and in Connecticut. She personified the love of learning, commitment to students, and dedication to the principles of equity and justice that are the hallmark of a great educator. An active member of many organizations and communities, she focused on arts and culture, children, civil rights and social action, education, health, human rights, poverty alleviation, and social services. She served as mentor, motivational speaker, outreach coordinator, and girl’s lacrosse coach. An avid runner, she also captained lacrosse at Wesleyan. Among those who survive are her mother, Elsie Halliday Okobi, Ph.D., three brothers, her sister, and a large extended family and group of friends and colleagues.