In this episode, Baba speaks with Professor Wayne Mitchell about his dual journey as a scientist and becoming the Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at Imperial College London. After a brief introduction and reflection on how they first met, Wayne explains his role as Associate Provost for EDI and outlines his day-to-day responsibilities. He shares his path to Imperial—from his upbringing and studies to joining the College in 2005—and discusses how he balances his passion for immunology with his EDI commitments.

The conversation also explores what motivated Wayne to take on the Associate Provost role and the impact of the initiatives he supports, such as Reach Society, the Imperial Sickle Cell Group, and the Race Equity Charter. He highlights the mission of Imperial As One and his “Belonging” podcast series, touching on themes of structural barriers, resilience and dreaming boldly. The episode concludes with advice for students who feel underrepresented, insights on cultural pressures, and ways all students can help create meaningful change.

If you want to hear more, join us each month for real conversations with Black students, professors, and industry pros about university life, STEM, and student culture. Hear personal stories, trending debates, and tips for thriving at uni — all in a relaxed, authentic space celebrating Black excellence. Subscribe, turn on notifications, and follow us to catch every episode!

Host & Contributors:

• Host: Baba Odumeru
• Host Bio: Baba is a second-year medical student at Imperial College London and serves as the Vice President for Events for Imperial's African Caribbean Society.
• Imperial ACS Instagram
• Campus N Culture Instagram

This debut episode of The Campus N Culture Podcast features a generation of ACS Presidents — Tani Akinmoladun, Blessings Mwanza, and Victor Ofodile, who led Imperial's African Caribbean Society in 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26, respectively. Baba Odumeru, the current Vice President of Events,  explores their journeys through Medicine, Mathematics, and student life at Imperial College London. They reflect on their paths to Imperial, from GCSEs to university, discussing challenges, misconceptions, and advice for future students. They also open up about their favourite memories, the realities of campus life, and what it’s really like balancing intense studies with leading a society, being creative, and pursuing personal passions.
 
The conversation deepens as they explore the theme of Black History Month: “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.” Everyone shares what the month means to them, their thoughts on representation, and reflections on today’s cultural climate. Wrapping up with trending topics, quick-fire cultural debates, and audience questions, the episode offers an authentic, entertaining, and empowering look into the lives of Black students thriving and leading within one of the UK’s top universities.
 
If you want to hear more, join us each month for real conversations with Black students, professors, and industry pros about university life, STEM, and student culture. Hear personal stories, trending debates, and tips for thriving at uni — all in a relaxed, authentic space celebrating Black excellence. Subscribe, turn on notifications, and follow us to catch every episode!

Host & Contributors:

• Host: Baba Odumeru
• Host Bio: Baba is a second-year medical student at Imperial College London and serves as the Vice President for Events for Imperial's African Caribbean Society.
• ⁠Imperial ACS Instagram⁠
• ⁠Campus N Culture Instagram