Examination of Future Construction Career Role Preferences and Identities of Construction Students

Abstract

Dr. Ofori-Boadu has over twenty years of relevant occupational experience in construction technology/management (industry), teaching, research and service. Dr. Ofori-Boadu has served in various capacities on research and service projects, including Principal Investigator for two most recent grants from the Engineering Information Foundation (EIF) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In 2017, Dr. Ofori-Boadu received both the College of Science and Technology (CoST) Rookie Research Excellence Award and the North Carolina A & T State University (NCAT) Rookie Research Excellence Award. She also received the Teaching Excellence Award for the Department of Built Environment. Under her mentorship, Dr. Ofori-Boadu's students have presented 10 research posters at various NCAT Undergraduate Research Symposia resulting in her receiving a 2017 Certificate of Recognition for Undergraduate Research Mentoring. She was also selected as a 2018 National Science Foundation -NC A & T ADVANCE IT Faculty Scholar. Her primary research engagements have been in bio-modified cement pastes, sustainable construction, and STEM education. She has received over $170,000 to support her teaching, research, and outreach projects. Overall, Dr. Ofori-Boadu's research work has resulted in 1 book publication, 13 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 5 conference proceedings, 2 accepted manuscripts (in-press), 3 manuscripts under review, 29 presentations at national conferences, and 27 poster sessions. In 2016, her publication was recognized by the Built Environment Project and Asset Management Journal as the 2016 Highly Commended Paper. In 2015, Dr. Ofori-Boadu established her STEM ACTIVATED! program for middle-school girls in Guilford county. She has also worked with the STEM of the Triad home-schooled children at Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2017, Dr. Ofori-Boadu established the REAL Professional Development Network for developing the leadership, networking, and other soft skills of undergraduate students at NCAT. Dr. Andrea Ofori-Boadu also serves as the Executive Vice-President of Penuel Consult, Incorporated. Dr. Ofori-Boadu is married to Victor Ofori-Boadu and they have been blessed with three wonderful children.

Nascent Professional Identity Development in Freshman Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Women

“…Considering that over 50% of the world's population is made up of women, the stronger persistence of women into the AEC profession could reduce workforce shortages, improve gender diversity, and enhance the innovation and development of more gender friendly AEC products and services. Women underrepresentation in engineering and technology professions is not due to their lack of cognitive ability, but as a result of the socialization and learning processes which influence their identities and career choices (Ofori-Boadu, 2018a;Ofori-Boadu, 2018b;Porter & Ofori-Boadu, 2018). Cultural stereotyping and negative imagery such as dirty hands, old boys' network, and negative female images discourage younger girls from making career choices that lead into male-dominated STEM professions (Phipps, 2001).…”

Professional Identity Formation and Development in HBCU Construction Students

“…Due to industry, work place and discipline differences among STEM professions, it is expected that PID towards STEM disciplines such as construction professions are unique and different from other STEM disciplines. Furthermore, few research studies have been conducted to assess the impact of both formal and informal learning strategies on construction career interests and learning [28][29] [30] [31]. To date, very little is known of the PID processes by which children transition to become CPs.…”