KINGSTON, R.I. – Aug. 11, 2026 – When considering university majors, some people know exactly what they want; others have no idea, and then there are those like Ayomide Olagundoye, who found it difficult to narrow down her many interests into one course of study.
Fortunately, there was a path for her at the University of Rhode Island that combines her passion for problem solving, affinity to the healthcare field, and love for people. She has found all of that when she chose biomedical engineering and Spanish, with a minor in mathematics, through URI’s International Engineering Program.
“This five-year dual-degree program is training me to be the global engineer that I wish to be.”Ayomide Olagundoye, Biomedical Engineering and Spanish IEP
“I had interests that spanned so many different topics and areas of study,” said Olagundoye. “This five-year dual-degree program is training me to be the global engineer that I wish to be.”
Olagundoye hopes to one day be able to ethically contribute to the future of medical technology with people-centered design and consideration to how technology can be sustained and properly integrated into healthcare systems globally.
“Engineering is such an interdisciplinary field that gives you the opportunity to apply basic concepts in creative ways and innovate novel solutions to some of the world’s most difficult challenges. I’m excited to use the skills I learn through URI’s College of Engineering, as well as from the language department integrating global health and establishing deeper connections through language,” said Olagundoye.
After winning a lottery, her parents and four older sisters were provided an opportunity to move to the United States from Nigeria just months before she was born. That experience encouraged her parents to instill in her gratitude and desire to always put her best effort into academics.
Olagundoye grew up in Johnston, Rhode Island, where she had the opportunity to take part in the Medical Careers Academy at Johnston High School, gaining exposure to the healthcare field and obtaining an EMT license.
She states that none of her experiences at URI would be possible without the support she has received. The Thomas M. Ryan Scholarship has allowed her to embark on a journey to explore and apply talent without the financial burden. “I am also very grateful to have received support through the John E. Gray Engineering Scholarship and through being named a 2023 Horatio Alger Association National Scholar, and a recent Phi Beta Kappa inductee,” said Olagundoye. “And of course, my parents and four older sisters have been so supportive of me throughout my journey.”
They have encouraged her to continue to be curious, use her talents to benefit others, and explore more about her Nigerian heritage and embrace other cultures. “My parents have especially showed me what it looks like to persist and not give up,” said Olagundoye.
She also benefited from the mentorship and guidance of the college’s career advising, which she says, “has helped to introduce me to new opportunities and stay on track.” Additionally, she is thankful to have a strong foundation in science, math, and engineering concepts necessary for internships and summer programs. She received tutoring when needed through the Academic Enhancement Center, and in turn tutored others.
Although the Rhode Island native didn’t choose to go far for her education, her education has in fact taken her across the world in just a few years. During her first year, she took a faculty-led winter J-Term course in Indonesia. “This experience opened my eyes to the impact that engineering can have on the environment and unexpectedly affect communities from afar. It’s beautiful to be able to meet new people and learn from their way of life, and it inspired me to continue to seek out more opportunities like it,” said Olagundoye.
Through Engineers Without Borders USA, she was able to join the Community Health Institute in Guatemala this summer. The mission of the Community Health Institute is to work alongside healthcare staff and engineering students in Guatemala to improve patient care through the restoration of critical medical devices and equipment. The program features two months of full immersion with the first month dedicated to cultural immersion, intensive language lessons, and technical equipment training. During the second month, she works with a small team at a hospital in a more rural part of Guatemala providing hands-on service, training staff on equipment use and maintenance, and learning from and establishing relationships with the hospital staff by practicing Spanish.
“Studying both Spanish and biomedical engineering has equipped me with the exact skills I need to take part in this experience. Through this program, I’ve been able to better understand how to best support hospital staff and create solutions that support a low-resource context. In addition, it has further revealed to me the significance of learning a language and taking part in cultural exchange, which can help to inform engineering design,” said Olagundoye.
She also credits the many clubs on campus as opportunities to get involved and meet people outside of one’s area of study. “Since my faith is very important to me, Rhody Christian Fellowship has been a student organization that has had a huge impact on my college experience. Through the program I was able to find a community of people and be challenged to continue growing spiritually alongside my academics,” said Olagundoye. In addition, she has been able to expand her horizons beyond engineering by taking part in different campus recreation classes, intramural soccer and futsal, volunteering as an EMT for URI’s Emergency Medical Services, and serving as an orientation leader for incoming first-year students.
“I am grateful I’ve gotten to experience different programs and opportunities during my past three years at URI,” said Olagundoye. “My hope is to use these experiences to inform my future trajectory.”
She looks forward to continuing to learn more and for her upcoming year abroad in Spain. “I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am for my time at URI!”