EBEW Leadership Team

FOUNDING DIRECTOR
EBEW CENTER
DR. ANDREA OFORI-BOADU

Dr. Andrea Nana Ofori-Boadu is the Founding Director of the EBEW Center. She is an Associate Professor of Construction Science and Management with the Department of Built Environment within the College of Science and Technology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Her passion is to utilize her God-given talents to advance sustainability in construction materials, processes, and workforce development. Andrea has over 20 years of occupational experience, with her most recent experience being in teaching, research, and service. Dr. Ofori-Boadu is a dedicated instructor, advisor, mentor, and role model who has served over 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students.

Andrea has received almost $2M from funding agencies to include the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Engineering Information Foundation, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Housing Endowment, and East Coast Construction Services. Her NC A & T Center of Excellence for Product Design and Advanced Manufacturing (CEPDAM) funding allowed her to conduct feasibility studies on bio-char modified cement pastes. In 2019, she received her prestigious NSF CAREER grant to construct substantive theories that explain professional identity development processes in undergraduate architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) women in the United States. In 2020, Dr. Ofori-Boadu received an NSF-RAPID grant to construct substantive theories that explain undergraduate STEM student decision-making processes during pandemics. Her research findings have resulted in a patent (U.S. Patent No. 11,104,611; August 31, 2021), 200 citations, 40 peer-reviewed publications, 90 presentations, 92 poster presentations, and website references such as on the International Bio-char Initiative website. She has also served as a peer reviewer for the National Science Foundation (NSF), Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, American Society for Engineering Education, and International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. She is also associated with the Piedmont Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.

In 2021, Dr. Ofori-Boadu was chosen by CEPDAM to showcase her research work in a promotional video series named “Women in Design and Manufacturing”. Andrea has received several teaching, mentoring, and research excellence awards to include the 2021 Outstanding College of Science and Technology Faculty STEMinist Mentoring Award, the 2020 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Outstanding Educator Award, the 2020 NC A & T Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, and the 2019 NC A & T Outstanding Young Investigator Research Excellence Award. Dr. Andrea Ofori-Boadu is the Founding Director of the Architecture, Engineering, Construction - Professional Development Program (AEC-PDP) for undergraduate AEC women, as well as the STEAM ACTIVATED! Program for middle-school girls. She is married to Victor Ofori-Boadu and they are blessed with three amazing children.

INSITUTIONAL COMPLIANCE LEAD
EBEW CENTER
DR. ALESIA FERGUSON

Alesia received her MS and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. She also holds a MPH degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her main research work focuses on exposure assessment for children and adults to various contaminants (e.g., pesticides, dioxins, lead, hairstyling products) through videotaping/video translation methods, numerical modeling, and adherence chamber studies.

Dr. Ferguson has previously focused on education and outreach to various communities concerning contaminants found in and around the home environment. With certifications as a Healthy Home Specialist and EPA Lead Trainer under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, Dr. Ferguson is focused on preventing adverse exposures in the home and in and around other environments. She previously worked with Dr. Beamer at Stanford as PHD candidates to look at exposures for children of farmworkers.

She has taught courses or lectures around environmental and occupational health including Environmental Public Policy, Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control, Human Exposure Assessment, Biological Hazards, Built Environment, Environmental and Occupational Regulations, and Industrial Hygiene. She is currently a Professor and the Chair for the Built Environment Department at NC A&T leading the Geomatics, Construction Management and Environmental Health and Safety Programs.

Dr. Alesia Ferguson is the Institutional Compliance Lead for the EBEW Center. She ensures that all activities comply with related regulations and advance EBEW mission.

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
EBEW CENTER
MS. SANIYA SAMPSON

Ms. Saniya Sampson is a Construction Management student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is an excellent student who has several years of construction industry experience. Saniya is an EBEW Affiliate and was part of the AEC-PDP Cohort 1 - the first EBEW graduates. Saniya is part of several student organizations. She was part of the Aggie-National Association of Home Builders competition team which placed 13th nationwide in 2022. Ms. Sampson has also received a Cornell Commercial Real Estate Certificate. She has served as a teaching and a research assistant with Dr. Ofori-Boadu's research team. As a research assistant, Ms. Sampson has presented her research work on social self-concept of undergraduate AEC women at several conferences to include the Black Doctoral Network conference and State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium. In 2022, she received the Outstanding College of Science and Technology Female Student Leadership Award. Saniya has a strong passion for increasing female participation in AEC professions.

Ms. Sampson is the student representative on this leadership team and contributes effectively to the design and implementation of EBEW programs.