Esther Olaleye, PhD., MPH.

Vice President for Research

Sam Houston State University

Esther Olaleye, PhD., MPH., is the Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs at Sam Houston State University. Olaleye, professor of pharmacology and American Council on Education Fellow, comes to SHSU from Texas Southern University, where she has worked in a variety of faculty and administrative roles for nearly 20 years. Most recently, she served as senior associate vice president for research and innovation and led the newly funded $21.5 million National Institutes of Health Center for Biomedical and Health Research.

Dr. Olaleye is a 2023-2024 American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, at the Office of the Chancellor of The University of Texas System in Austin. During her ACE placement at The University of Texas (UT) System, she worked closely with the nationally renowned Chancellor JB. Milliken, and the outstanding 14 Presidents at UT institutions, and developed a greater appreciation for high impact leadership in higher education. Dr. Olaleye’s formal training in pharmacology and epidemiology, were at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Harvard University respectively. She has a strong background and expertise in biomedical research and public health spanning over a combined 24 years, working on research programs focused on diseases that disproportionately affect under resourced and high-risk populations. Dr. Olaleye is a nationally recognized leader in maternal and child health.