When Grace Odunuga arrived at Queen’s University, she set out to make an impact both inside and outside the classroom. As a Bachelor of Computing student specializing in Computer Science and Security, she combined academic excellence with a passion for leadership, equity, and community building.
Grace’s passion for improving the experiences of Black students in computing has shaped much of her work at Queen’s. In 2022, she founded the Black Computing Student Society (now known as Queen’s Black Tech), for Black students in Computing, Engineering, and other STEM programs. Through social events, networking opportunities, mentorship, and initiatives such as Black Student Coding Hours, the group has created a supportive community where Black students can thrive in Computing. Today, she sits as the Finance Director for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and is the Equity Director for Queen’s Computing Student Association (COMPSA).
Her advocacy also extends into research. Grace is currently completing an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) project examining the Black student experience at Queen’s University. This work builds on an earlier research assistantship with Professor Katherine McKittrick, Canada Research Chair in Black Studies, and her interdisciplinary honours thesis jointly supervised by Professor McKittrick and Professor Erin Meger in Computing. Through this research, Grace has explored how Black students navigate computing education and how institutions can foster spaces where Black students have strong opportunities to succeed in academia.
Beyond her work in equity and research, Grace has made significant contributions across the Queen’s community. She served as a Residence Don for four years, supporting more than 250 students through mentorship, programming, and student support initiatives. As an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Computing, she helped students succeed in courses including Data Structures & Algorithms and Discrete Mathematics, sharing her enthusiasm for learning with the next generation of computing students.
Whether conducting research, mentoring students, leading organizations, or advocating for inclusion, Grace has consistently worked to make Queen’s a more welcoming and supportive place for others. Her leadership has helped strengthen the School of Computing community and has created lasting opportunities for Black students to succeed and feel a sense of belonging.
As she graduates, Grace leaves a legacy of service and community building that will continue to shape Queen’s Computing for years to come.