Fenda Akiwumi is an Environmental and Social Geographer and Professor in the Geography, Environmental Science, and Policy Program at, School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida. She served as the Program Director of the Institute on Black Life at USF from 2018-2024 facilitating its mission to serve as a resource center on the history and culture of the Black experience in Africa and the African Diaspora. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Manchester, U.K., a master's degree in hydrogeology from University College London, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Geography from Texas State University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Geographical Perspectives on Sub-Saharan Africa, Global Conservation, Environmental Thought/Perspectives, and Sustainable Development. Her research is at the intersection of the sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, with an applied, policy, and community-engaged focus. She engages topics in natural resource extraction and policy such as resource use (sustainable development, sustainable livelihoods, indigenous knowledge systems, gender), and resource problems (equitable distribution, environmental deterioration, conflict, cultural alienation). Cultural diversity is a consistent thread throughout her research that addresses issues such as environmental and sociocultural justice, mineral and water resources policy and law in Africa, Indigenous peoples’ rights, and cultural heritage preservation. Her research interests also include Africa-African Diaspora collaborations for development and ethnic geographic education. She is the author of Culture and Conflicts in Sierra Leone Mining: Strangers, Aliens, Spirits (Anthem Press 2024); and co-editor of Teaching Ethnic Geography in the 21st Century (Washington, DC: National Council for Geographic Education).

She has published book chapters, and papers in journals like Antipode, Journal of Cleaner Production, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Habitat International, Communications, Earth and Environment, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, The Extractive Industries and Society, Journal of Black Studies, Journal of Asian and African Studies, Greener Management International, Habitat International, and Politics, Groups and Identities and presented at national and international conferences. From 2008 to 2010, she served as inaugural chair and member of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) Expert Advisory Group on Water and Cultural Diversity convened to develop culturally sensitive methodological guidelines and policy recommendations on mainstreaming cultural diversity into Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Professor Akiwumi is recipient of several awards including the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Kwadwo Konadu-Agyeman Distinguished Scholar Award in African Geography, 2019 and Harm J. de Blij Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Geography Teaching, 2018; National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) Higher Education Distinguished Teaching Award, 2017; USF Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, 2016-2017; Distinguished Alumna Achievement Award from the College of Liberal Arts, Texas State University, 2016; Distinguished Department of Geography Alumni Award, Texas State University, 2016; and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence in Teaching Award, 1998.