He is from Enugu, Nigeria and prior to his journey at Penn, Chukwudi worked as a Lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and has published a number of articles and book chapters in both local and international journals. He is a member of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) and Lagos Studies Association (LSA).
Chukwudi combines sociology, demography, cultural studies, oral history, urban planning, and geography to capture how colonialism and racial conflicts reshaped human space, environment, laborers and urbanism in South-East Nigeria.
Mathias Chukwudi Isiani is a PhD student and Benjamin Franklin Fellowship Awardee at the Department of Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania. Chukwudi earned his baccalaureate degree in History and International Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Master of Arts degree in Economic History at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka where he graduated with distinction and the Best Graduating student in the Department.