Prince Ogidikpe: Master of Public Administration
Back in the Pack: Prince Ogidikpe Returns for Grad School and Service
“CSUSB raised me,” says graduate student Prince Ogidikpe, and there’s definitely some truth to that statement. Having embarked on his undergraduate program at CSUSB at age 15, Ogidikpe grew into campus leadership positions, and is now pursuing his master’s in public administration while working for a state senator. His remarkable leadership skills, warm energy, and dedication to community service sets him apart, earning him the title “Graduate Studies’ Innovator of the Month.”
Ogidikpe fell into politics and public service while pursuing his bachelor’s in psychology. At the time, he had no plans to engage in politics, he simply wanted better campus concerts.
“They didn't throw a concert that I wanted and some of my friends wanted, so I decided, well, wait, who's throwing this concert? And they were like, oh, it's ASI. I'm like, what's ASI? They said student government. So I went and checked it out.”
Ogidikpe soon realized that Associated Students, Incorporated, does far more than organize concerts. ASI represents student interests and advocates on their behalf, tackling issues like student food insecurity, student housing, campus safety, and tuition. Ogidikpe got involved and eventually served as executive vice president and president before graduating with his bachelor’s in 2019.
His experiences in student government sparked his interest in serving the wider community of San Bernardino. That same year, he landed an internship with then assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes, and was soon offered a permanent position. When Reyes was elected senator in 2024, her team transitioned into their new roles. Ogidikpe now serves as Senior District Representative for the cities of San Bernardino and Colton. His work encompasses a wide range of responsibilities: attending community events, managing an internship program, and covering a number of policy areas, including grants, disabilities, and homelessness.
Ogidikpe describes his workday:
“Typical day, I'm coming in the office, I'm helping residents or constituents navigate state agencies, resolving issues and problems in that way, and then I'm either attending community meetings, events, or some kind of ceremony on behalf of the senator. And then, in addition to all of this, in the same light, I'm building relationships with people, whether it be the local government or city council folks in other municipalities.”
Always open to new opportunities to learn and grow, in 2025 Ogidikpe decided to pursue a master’s degree in public administration. After a stint at the Price School for Public Policy at USC, he decided to return to his hometown for his MPA.
“Coming back to CSUSB was like coming back home,” he remarked.
Ogidikpe plans to serve Senator Reyes until the end of her term. While he does not plan to run for office himself, he doesn’t rule it out. His experience as a young undergraduate taught him lessons that he follows to this day:
“I learned to use my voice,” Ogidikpe said. “People also helped me amplify it and encouraged me to get more involved, and so I definitely learned that I had a voice, and that if I spoke, people would listen. That was really, really transforming for me.”
We are sure to hear more about Ogidikpe in the future as he continues to rise through the ranks of local and state government, always looking for innovative ways to give back to his community. Graduate Studies is proud to name him Innovator of the Month.