Spelman Sophomore, Oluremi Abiodum Participates in South African Climate Summit

ATLANTA, GA (11/15/2011)(readMedia)-- Spelman College sophomore, Oluremi Abiodum from New Orleans, La., has been selected as one of six historically Black college and university Environment and Climate Justice Initiative Scholars by the Dillard University Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. Abiodum has the amazing opportunity of travelling to Durban, South Africa for the United Nations Climate Summit Nov.28 through Dec. 9, 2011.

Abiodum was selected because of her interest in climate change, demonstrated commitment to community service and her academic achievements. In preparation for the conference, she will write personal reflections on topics such as the impact of climate change on the poor and/or how she plans to leverage the knowledge gained from her trip to Durban. Her reflections will be featured on the DSCEJ website at www.dscej.org.

Funding for this initiative has been provided by the Ford Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal. Other organizational support includes the Texas Southern Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, The Advocates for Environmental and Human Rights (AEHR), Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiate (EJCC) and WE ACT for Environmental Justice of Harlem, New York.

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a prestigious, highly selective, liberal arts college that prepares women to change the world. Located in Atlanta, Ga., this historically black college boasts an 83 percent graduation rate, and outstanding alumnae such as Children's Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; former U.S. Foreign Service Director General Ruth Davis, authors Tina McElroy Ansa and Pearl Cleage; and actress LaTanya Richardson. More than 85 percent of the full-time faculty members have Ph.D.s or other terminal degrees, and the average faculty to student ratio is 9:1. More than 2,100 students attend Spelman. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu.