Yahya H. Affinnih, PhD, is the center's coordinator and director. A former associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of the  City University of New York, he developed and taught  courses on drug and crime in Africa. He has published extensively in academic peer review journals on drug problems in Africa. Professor Affinnih trained as a post-doctorial research fellow on substance use and abuse at National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI) Inc., New York City. He was also Cater G. Woodson Institute pre-doctorial research fellow for the  study of Black History and Civil Rights  at University of Virginia in the United States.