Who Are We
The Culerson Policy and Research Institute (Cupri) is the nonprofit research arm of the Culerson Group — dedicated to transforming communities through digital, physical, and human infrastructure.
We bridge the gap between academic research, industry innovation, and community impact by conducting applied research, training professionals for the future of work, and building global partnerships that deliver real-world solutions.
Our Core Pillars
Access
Connecting you to global platforms that value your voice.
Empowerment
Equipping you with tools to grow and lead.
Impact
Turning your expertise into influence that drives change.
Meet The Founder
Transformational executive working at the intersection of policy and business transformation in the energy sector. Sorochi holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering from Covenant University, a Master’s in Energy Systems Engineering from the University of Maryland (with a certificate in Energy Policy and Management), and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at UC Berkeley.
Sorochi founded CUPRI with a clear mission: to ensure immigrants and people of color are leading policy and development initiatives in emerging technologies. He believes strongly that these communities must be positioned as pioneers and innovators from day one—not as late adopters or followers of trends. Throughout his career, Sorochi has focused on shaping strategic initiatives that anticipate and drive industry changes, creating meaningful impact in how we approach energy challenges. He established CUPRI in response to client demand for deeper, edge-case research on emerging technologies—the kind of forward-thinking analysis that informs long-term strategic planning. His vision is for CUPRI to become a research powerhouse that empowers underrepresented communities to not just adapt to technological change, but to lead it.
Our Mission
Culerson empowers professionals to lead innovation and policy change by connecting research, education, and real-world application. We train global talents to excel in key fields such as energy, health, technology, and finance — preparing them to solve emerging challenges through collaboration with nonprofits, corporations, and governments.
Our Vision
To become a world-class research and development institute that empowers immigrant and non-immigrant professionals to drive innovation, influence policy, and shape the future of work through cutting-edge research, education, and collaboration.
Program Advisors
Ifeoluwa Familoye
Attorney
Foreign-trained attorney with over 4 years of legal experience in Nigeria and the United States. Ifeoluwa holds an LL.M. from USC Gould School of Law and recently passed the NY Bar Exam. Her legal background spans commercial transactions, intellectual property, media law, and financial advisory, supporting startups, creatives, and private clients across borders. She has drafted and negotiated contracts, advised on IP protection, and supported corporate compliance in both law firm and in-house settings.
Currently serving as a Law Fellow at California Lawyers for the Arts, Ifeoluwa assists artists and creative entrepreneurs with legal education and intellectual property issues. She is particularly drawn to work involving film production, content licensing, investor/producer deals, and cross-border entertainment projects. Having helped tens of people successfully obtain their green cards and navigated the process herself, Ifeoluwa brings invaluable legal expertise and firsthand experience to provide mentorship and project evaluation for CUPRI participants.
Fisayo Okare
Journalist
Multi-award-winning journalist and content producer with 8+ years of experience in storytelling across news, newsletters, long-form writing, and audio. Skilled in editorial product strategy, audience research, and creative nonfiction. At Documented, she led and relaunched the flagship newsletter Early Arrival, growing it from 12,000 to 50,000 subscribers with a 40% open rate, and spun it off into two new editorial products: the award-winning interview series Our City and the Documented radio show on WBAI 99.5 FM.
Her career began in Nigeria, where she reported across politics, business, and culture, including roles at Stears, Yiaga Africa, and The Native. She holds a First-Class degree in Mass Communication and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. Her work has been featured on PBS News, Voice of America, and other outlets. Having successfully built her own profile and secured her green card, Fisayo is uniquely positioned to provide mentorship and project evaluation for CUPRI participants.
Success Osamuyi
Manager, Utility Company
An effective communicator with the ability to provide leadership in teams and build positive, cohesive relationships with all levels of staff, Success is an ambitious self-starter eager to gain hands-on experience in organizations that embrace creativity and innovation. Drawing from his experience in building a strong profile and securing his green card, Success is ideally positioned to provide mentorship and project evaluation for CUPRI participants.
Dr. Chigolum Oyeka
Physician Researcher & Entrepreneur
As a physician researcher and entrepreneur, Dr. Oyeka combines clinical expertise with research excellence to advance public health and medical knowledge. Having successfully completed the profile-building journey and obtained his green card, Dr. Oyeka is exceptionally qualified to provide mentorship and project evaluation for CUPRI participants