Sherman, Texas -- Austin College has named physician, author, and health equity advocate Dr. Dale Okorodudu as the 2027 Posey Leader-in-Residence.
Okorodudu attended the University of Missouri, where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and later his Doctor of Medicine. He went on to complete his internal medicine residency at Duke University in North Carolina. After his residency, Okorodudu advanced his training through a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. During his fellowship alongside a team of other physicians, he founded DiverseMedicine Inc. in 2011 and Black Men in White Coats in 2012. Okorodudu joined the UT Southwestern Faculty in 2016, and in the same year became a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Dallas Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center.
The Black Men in White Coats initiative is a nationally recognized movement aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of Black men in medicine by inspiring young students through storytelling, community engagement, and educational programming. Through this work, Okorodudu has been a leading voice in reshaping the narrative around minority representation in healthcare.
In his faculty role, he combines clinical excellence with impactful mentorship and outreach. In addition to his medical practice and advocacy, Okorodudu is an accomplished author and filmmaker.
As the Posey Leader-In-Residence, Okorodudu will offer four virtual sessions for students throughout the year, hosted in partnership with Austin College faculty members: Associate Professor of Public Health Dr. Mathias Akuoko, Professor of Psychology Dr. Lisa Brown, Executive Director of Posey Leadership Institute Dr. Martinella Dryburgh, Executive Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development Dallas Key, and Associate Professor of Writing Dr. Lisha Storey. These sessions will touch on different aspects of Okorodudu’s work in the context of each professor’s academic focus.
These Leader-In-Residence engagements culminate in an Award presentation and keynote address on Thursday, April 8, 2027, at 11 a.m. in Wynne Chapel on the Austin College Campus. That event will be open to the public and free to attend.
Formally launched in 2005 and made possible through the generosity of Sally and Lee Posey of Dallas, the Austin College Posey Leadership Award honors an outstanding individual who has demonstrated the principles of servant leadership by taking a courageous stand on a public policy issue that advances a humanitarian or educational purpose; or serving the youth of a state, nation, or international community to improve the quality of health, educational, or community services; or by creating opportunities for young people that help them enhance their educational experience and move to a new level of service to society. Past Posey Leadership Award recipients include Jeffrey Rosen in 2026, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe in 2025, Rick Lowe in 2024, Sylvia Acevedo in 2023, Barbara Pierce Bush in 2018, Dr. Nathan Wolfe in 2014, and Wendy Kopp in 2006.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
