2020 Power 50: Kola A. Akindele
Photo | Courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Kola Akindele
- Title: Assistant vice chancellor for city & community relations
- Organization: UMass Medical School
- Located: Worcester
- Residence: Dudley
- Colleges: Quinnipiac University, UMass Boston, Northeastern University & UMass Lowell
More Information
Since UMMS was founded nearly 50 years ago, it has been a generator of healthcare professionals, medical research, and biomedical companies. Akindele, though, ensures the 6,000-employee, $1-billion organization contributes in other ways.
He is the connection between the school and the community, developing relationships with government and community institutions, leveraging UMMS expertise and resources for the community. Collaborations include an effort with the Mass. Division of Public Health to improve community health, and the North Quadrant Support Services initiative with Worcester Public Schools. Through NQSS, the medical school addresses barriers to learning by providing access to food pantries, backpacks stocked with supplies, laundry facilities for students, and mini-grants to teachers.
What makes Central Mass. unique? The willingness of people and institutions across sectors to come together to solve a problem positions us for success, as evidenced by the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cutting the grass: I love to watch obscure sporting events like lawn mower racing and corn hole tournaments, among others, on ESPN.
Power 50: View the entire Power 50 Class of 2020
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments