Shae O. Omonijo

Shae O. Omonijo is a multidisciplinary scholar, public educator, and humanist whose work is positioned at the intersection of history, political theory, and the study of human connection. A political theorist and intellectual historian specializing in African and Middle Eastern studies, Omonijo is a doctoral candidate in the Department of History at Harvard University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science with honors from the University of Chicago and a Master of Arts in history from Harvard University. Her academic pursuits are driven by a commitment to recovering and amplifying marginalized voices, a mission that began during her undergraduate years when she co-commissioned a bust of University of Chicago graduate Georgiana Rose Simpson, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in the United States, raising nearly $50,000 for the monument.

Omonijo's research focuses on categories of belonging and exclusion, examining the relationship between exile, nationalism, and identity formation among marginalized communities in the British Empire. Within British imperial history, she investigates the historical connections between ceramics and the abolition of slavery, the experiences of exiled people and objects, and the presence of Orientalist and African artworks in collections. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates material culture, political theory, and imperial history, contributing to contemporary historical scholarship.

Outside academia, Omonijo has developed a public platform dedicated to making history and critical thinking accessible in the digital age. She is the creator of "Critical Thinking in the Age of AI," a public scholarship series designed to help audiences strengthen judgment, creativity, and curiosity in a world shaped by algorithms. Omonijo is also the founder of Analog Social, a media and wellness venture incubated at Harvard Innovation Labs, which promotes analog wellness and equips individuals to think critically and live meaningfully amid digital distractions. Analog Social was recognized as a semifinalist in the Harvard President's Innovation Challenge.

Omonijo's work bridges the humanities and technological innovation, encouraging educators, creators, and professionals to engage with artificial intelligence and technology through intellectual rigor and ethical consideration. Her content connects academic research with entrepreneurial practice, offering practical insights for young professionals, particularly women and people of color, entering business and technology sectors. With a combined audience exceeding 250,000, Omonijo leverages her public speaking and engagement skills to educate and empower individuals to participate in shaping the future of artificial intelligence and digital culture. Whether in archival research or public forums, Omonijo applies a historian's analytical perspective and an educator's clarity to address critical questions in technology, history, and society.