Esther Oyedele

Esther Oyedele is a water resources researcher and doctoral student in the Geosciences department at Virginia Tech, specializing in groundwater hydrology, climate resilience, and environmental justice. Her research explores the impacts of anthropogenic groundwater depletion across the Contiguous United States, with a particular focus on understanding how climate change and unsustainable water management disproportionately affect marginalized and historically underserved communities.

As a fellow and contributor to the Bill Anderson Fund, Oyedele actively supports initiatives that expand the participation of underrepresented minorities in hazards research and practice. She is also passionate about science communication, mentoring early-career scholars, and applying her research to real-world solutions in water governance, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation.