Ogundipe is the first dean of the Padnos College of Engineering at Grand Valley State University. He earned a doctoral degree in environmental engineering, master’s degree in chemical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Lagos in Nigeria.

While in Nigeria, he started down a path to earn a chemical engineering degree to work for an oil company. Then he served a public service stint in the Niger Delta region and fully understood how oil wells had devastated the country’s environment.That led to a graduate school appointment as an environmental engineer for a U.S. Department of Defense subcontractor, where Ogundipe worked, as “a chemical and environmental engineer and a materials scientist.”

This experience changed his attitude toward engineering education. He learned the need for flexibility and giving students robust learning experiences. He is a strong proponent of holistic approaches to educating and training engineering professionals.