Essien Oku Essien: Honorary Doctor Of Humane Letters And Vanguard Scholar In Climate, Culture, And Communication Studies

Essien Oku Essien, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, has established himself as a distinguished global scholar in the intersecting fields of climate communication, cultural studies, and media theory. A native of Nigeria currently based in the United States, Essien is pursuing a doctoral degree (PhD) at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where his academic journey is characterized by intellectual depth, interdisciplinary engagement, and a commitment to advocating for epistemic justice. His work is particularly focused on climate change and Indigenous cosmologies, blending theoretical inquiry with community-driven advocacy.

Essien’s academic and public contributions are deeply informed by his expertise in semiotics, critical theory, visual culture, and religious studies. His primary research investigates the ideological tensions between Indigenous cosmological interpretations and scientific climate change frameworks, with particular emphasis on how Indigenous communities view the climate crisis as a spiritual and cultural phenomenon. In his paper titled Misrepresentations of Climate Change as Spiritual and Cultural Crises: The Case of Africa, Essien was awarded the Emerging Scholar Award at the 17th International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses, hosted by Florida International University in 2025. This prestigious recognition further contributed to his selection as one of the top 25 global fellows for the Faith For Our Planet Fellowship at Duke Divinity School, a distinction achieved out of more than 5,000 international applicants.

Reflecting the global scope of his research, Essien was also honored with the Doctoral Summer Fellowship from the Swedish Center for the Impacts of Climate Extremes (CLIMES) at Uppsala University, Sweden, a competitive fellowship that underscores his reputation as a leader in climate studies. As part of his ongoing research, he was invited to deliver a guest lecture at the Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil, during the International Climate Change Conference in Miami. His work continues to be nurtured at Drexel University under the mentorship of Professor Douglas Porpora, a renowned scholar in the field of social constructionism, helping Essien to further develop the theoretical frameworks underpinning his research.

Essien's notable scholarly project, Class War: Indigenous Cosmological Interpretations of Climate Change and the Scientific Paradigm in Coastal West Africa, probes the epistemological tensions between African Indigenous Religions (AIRs) and scientific climate models. This ethnographic and theoretical study will soon be submitted for consideration to the West African Scholar Mobility Fellowship. In addition, Essien authored Climate Models: The Politics of Theory Consumption, a study that analyzes the socio-economic stratification of climate information audiences, the political roots of climate denialism, and the performative role of the media in shaping environmental discourse.

Extending his research to the semiotic and theological dimensions of religious media, Essien co-authored a critical analysis of the depiction of the angel Gabriel in the Netflix film Mary (2024). Using Charles Sanders Peirce’s Semiotic Theory alongside color theory, this study interrogates the evolving iconography of religious figures in contemporary cinematic representations. This engagement reflects his broader interest in decoding symbolic systems within theological and mythological contexts, and his forthcoming research workshop on media, mythology, and comparative theology will be presented at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. There, he will also receive an award from the Religion in Society Research Network during the 15th International Conference on Religion and Spirituality in Society.

In addition to his academic work, Essien holds leadership roles that reflect his commitment to both local and global engagement. As President of the International Graduate Students Association at Drexel University, Essien advocates for the welfare of international students, ensuring their representation in institutional decision-making processes. A talented orator, he has presented his research at prestigious academic conferences across Ireland, Germany, Argentina, Canada, Nigeria, the United States, and Italy. His participation in these global academic platforms and other global events like the World Bank Youth Summit, Global Landscape Forums, Thirst Foundation World Water Run, World Bank Land Conference, among others demonstrates his dedication to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Decade of Action initiative.

Essien’s influence extends beyond academia, as his dedication to climate advocacy and communication has earned him recognition in both academic and public spheres. This 2025, he received an honorary doctorate in Communication and Climate Change from the American Management University in California. Additionally, he was appointed an Interfaith Morality Ambassador by the International University of Morality in Coral Gables, Florida, an appointment that underscores his commitment to interfaith understanding and moral responsibility in addressing global environmental challenges.

As a public intellectual, Essien’s work and scholarship are accessible across a range of platforms. His upcoming academic monograph, Cultural Materiality and the Semiotics of Altered Logics, dives into the intersections of metaphysics, culture, and the visual logic of belief systems. Through his ongoing engagement with conferences, media appearances, and community outreach, Essien continues to articulate a scholarly vision rooted in Afrocentric epistemologies, Indigenous American cosmologies, and global cultural perspectives. His work calls for the democratization of knowledge and challenges dominant paradigms in environmental and cultural discourses.

Essien’s academic contributions have also earned him a place among the world’s leading scholars. He was recently ranked in the top 6.5% of over 2.18 million authors on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), based on readership and impact metrics, a testament to the significance and reach of his work.

For Essien, the climate crisis is not merely an environmental issue but also a hermeneutical one. He asserts, “The climate crisis is not just an environmental catastrophe but a hermeneutical one—how we interpret, represent, and respond to it reveals more about our cosmological values than our technologies.” This philosophical framing underscores his commitment to reshaping the discourse surrounding climate change, incorporating both Indigenous knowledge systems and critical inquiry.

As Essien continues to build on his intellectual and moral clarity, his work represents a unique blend of rigorous academic scholarship and transformative public engagement. Positioned at the intersection of theory and praxis, his contributions are helping to shape the global understanding of climate change, spirituality, and cultural discourse in ways that are both grounded in tradition and responsive to modern challenges.

For more information on Essien Oku Essien and his work, visit his LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), or explore his publication Church of the Last Age on Amazon.