ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT with Adebade Ilori, MBS’ 25
HEALING THROUGH SCIENCE, STORYTELLING, & SERVICE
From the moment Adebade stepped onto campus, it was clear he was destined not only to study science— but to embody it in service. As cohort president, Health Careers Opportunity Program( HCOP) Scholar, and community-based Substance Abuse Research Training program SART researcher, Adebade’ s leadership extended beyond the classroom and into the heart of Los Angeles. His research centered on improving retention for individuals facing housing insecurity through contingency management strategies in supportive housing— a critical public health issue across the county. But his impact goes beyond data points.
Adebade is a passionate advocate for mental health. Whether leading a research initiative or performing spoken word poetry, he blends science and storytelling to give voice to those too often left out of conversations about care.
Q & A with Adebade Ilori
What is your passion? I’ m passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and supported— especially when it comes to mental health.
That passion led me to help establish an Adult Residential Facility for individuals with mental health challenges in Sacramento during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I served as both a caregiver and administrator, and over the past five years, that work has expanded into three additional licensed facilities.
What change do you want to see in the world and in your community? I want to see a future where mental wellbeing is embraced, prioritized, and passed down through generations
— just like culture, values, and faith. I hope my advocacy contributes to a world where individuals and families are equipped with the tools to care for their minds as much as their bodies. That means helping to build communities where practices like self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthy communication are normalized— and where resources for care are affordable, culturally rooted, and easy to access. I want to see systems that promote wellness, not just respond to illness
What connected you to Drew? Why did you choose CDU? In a way, Drew chose me before I ever chose it. I received a letter inviting me to consider the Master of Biomedical Sciences program, and that moment stuck with me— it felt like more than a coincidence. It felt like a calling. From the start, CDU saw something in me, and that made me want to show up fully. What drew me in even more was how CDU doesn’ t just serve underrepresented communities— it equips us. It’ s a place where students of color aren’ t just included; we’ re empowered to lead, to grow, and to advance in spaces that weren’ t built for us. I didn’ t just come to Drew to get a degree— I came to be developed to reach my destiny.
Are you a first-generation or legacy student? I’ m not a first-generation student— both of my parents earned their bachelor’ s degrees, and I’ ve been blessed to follow in their footsteps. I’ d like to thank both my father and mother— because of their provisions and prayers, I was able to take the next step and earn my master’ s degree. Their legacy of faith, love, and perseverance has been the foundation of my journey.
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