Greetings from the College of Science and Technology (CoST) at N.C. A&T State University.

It’s a new year and we are pleased to share several highlights that reflect the outstanding achievements of our alumni, students, and faculty across the College of Science and Technology. These accomplishments underscore the continued excellence, innovation, and impact of our Aggie community. 

We extend our warmest congratulations to all CoST students who earned baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees during the Fall 2025 Commencement. We are especially proud to recognize nine Ph.D. candidates who successfully defended their dissertations in Fall 2025, marking a significant milestone in their academic and professional journeys. 

We are also delighted to announce that our Online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program achieved its highest ranking to date in U.S. News & World Report, earning No. 9 nationally (tie) and No. 6 in the nation for veterans. This recognition reflects the program’s strong academic quality, dedicated faculty, and the success of our students. 

Abdellah Ahmidouch, Ph.D., Dean,
College of Science and Technology

Our faculty, alumni, and students continue to earn recognition at the national level. Andrea Ofori-Boadu, Ph.D., became the first faculty member in the Department of Built Environment to hold a U.S. patent featured in N.C. A&T’s Patent Gallery.  Brittany Sanders, Ph.D., an alumna of the Department of Biology and the Applied Science and Technology (AST) Ph.D. program, received the prestigious Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHBGS) Dissertation Award. In addition, four physics students earned presentation awards at the National Society of Black Physicists Annual Conference, and three AST graduate students showcased their research at the 2026 Ronald E. McNair Research Symposium. 

These successes exemplify the Aggie Pride that defines our college. We hope you enjoy this sampling of outstanding stories, and we invite you to share your own achievements with us — we would love to hear from you. 

CoST's Online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program continues to earn national recognition, achieving its highest U.S. News & World Report ranking to date. In the 2026 rankings, the program placed tied for ninth nationally and ranked sixth in the nation for veterans, reinforcing its position among the country’s leading online IT graduate programs. 

Launched in Spring 2008, the MSIT Online program has spent nearly two decades preparing professionals to lead in an increasingly digital world. What began as a forward-looking graduate offering has grown into one of the university’s flagship programs, serving working professionals, military-affiliated students, and aspiring technology leaders nationwide. 

The program’s rise in national rankings highlights sustained excellence and continuous improvement. Over the past four years, the MSIT Online program has climbed steadily in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, reflecting strong academic quality, faculty expertise, and student outcomes. 

Designed for today’s learners, the MSIT Online program offers the flexibility of fully online delivery while maintaining rigorous academic standards. Students develop advanced technical expertise, leadership skills, and real-world problem-solving abilities that support career advancement—often while balancing full-time work, military service and family responsibilities. 

The program’s continued strength in the veterans rankings reflects a deep commitment to military-affiliated learners through accessible pathways, targeted support, and a learning environment built for success. 

As the MSIT Online program approaches two decades of innovation and impact, its national recognition affirms what students and alumni already know: this is a proven, respected and rising program. For professionals looking to advance their careers in information technology, there has never been a better time to join. 

2026: #9 National (tie) | #6 for Veterans

2025: #10 National (tie) | #6 for Veterans

2024: #11 National (tie) | #8 for Veterans

2023: #12 National (tie) | #7 for Veterans 

N.C. A&T’s leaders and inventors gathered on Patent Reveal Day to celebrate innovation success on Jan. 23, 2026. Andrea N. Ofori-Boadu, Ph.D., an assistant professor in CoST’s Department of Built Environment, was one of 17 faculty members who were recognized for successfully translating discoveries into products that will have real-world impact on society.

The event was hosted by the Division of Research and included remarks from its leadership and Chancellor James R. Martin II regarding technology transfer and commercialization at N.C. A&T. 

This Patent Reveal Day recognized 49 inventors who secured 39 granted U.S. patents between fiscal years 2017 and 2025. These patents included the Ofori-Boadu and Fini U.S. Patent # 11,104,611 titled, Swine-waste biochar as a sustainable cement replacement material.

Pictured l to r: Dr. Andrea Ofori-Boadu, Chancellor James R. Martin II, and Dr. Catherine Edmonds, interim provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. 

“It’s not just about celebrating the patents.
It’s about celebrating the pathway, the process,
from ideas and conversations that then mature
into richer concepts and prototypes that become
research projects, which we apply in a larger way
to commercialize them.”

                                     Chancellor James R. Martin II

In 2018, Ofori-Boadu’s work was highlighted by the International Biochar Initiative and has since been cited by biochar scholars across the world. Ofori-Boadu showed for the first time that swine-manure biochar can be processed and utilized for partial cement replacement. Furthermore, biochar influences the performance and durability of cement pastes while contributing to environmental sustainability. Ofori-Boadu is the first faculty member in the Department of Built Environment of CoST to hold a U.S. patent featured in N.C. A&T’s Patent Gallery. Additional details are available here. Built Environment's chair, Alesia Ferguson, Ph.D., noted there are more patent applications in the pipeline. 

The public is invited to visit NC A&T’s Patent Gallery. Read the full story here.

Dr. Misty Thomas hoodS Dr. Brittany Sanders during 2024 Spring commencement.

CoST congratulates Brittany R. Sanders, Ph.D., alumna of the Department of Biology and the Applied Science and Technology (AST) Ph.D. program, on being selected as the 2025–2026 Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHBGS) Dissertation Award recipient. This prestigious national honor recognizes exceptional doctoral scholarship across HBCUs and highlights the impact of outstanding graduate research. 

Sanders earned her B.S. in biology from Bennett College for Women in 2012 and M.S. in biology in 2016 from N.C. A&T. She completed her Ph.D. in applied science and technology-bioscience in Spring 2024 under the mentorship of Misty Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor of biology. 

Sanders’ doctoral dissertation, which examined how two-component response systems drive environmental adaptation in bacteria, was first recognized with the N.C. A&T Outstanding Dissertation Award. Following this honor, the Graduate College nominated her work for national consideration through CHBGS, where it was ultimately selected as the top dissertation among a competitive pool of candidates. 

The CHBGS Dissertation Award acknowledges originality, scientific rigor and broader scholarly impact. As part of this recognition, Sanders will be formally honored at the 56th Annual CHBGS Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she will receive her award during the conference Awards Luncheon. 

Sanders’ success reflects the strength of interdisciplinary doctoral training within CoST and the collaborative research culture fostered across biology and AST programs. Today, she continues her scientific career as a Genomics Research Associate at NC A&T, contributing to workforce development and cutting-edge research. 

CoST celebrates Sanders’ achievement and applauds the mentorship and training that supported her success. 

Last November, the Department of Physics sent 15 students majoring in physics or atmospheric science and meteorology (ASME) and two faculty members to the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) Annual Conference in San Jose, California. These students presented their research as either a poster or an oral contribution. At the end of the week, four students won awards for their presentations: 

Nick Branch, B.S., ASME – Poster Presentation

Joshua McCalla, M.S., Physics (AS concentration)– Poster Presentation 

Alexis Spence, B.S., Physics – Oral Presentation

Bre Robinson, B.S, Physics – Oral Presentation

Physics and ASME students at the NSBP conference. Pictured l to r: Alexis Spence, Joshua McCalla, Nick Branch, and Bre Robbinson

Other student attendees included Adrajow Ferede (Ph.D., AST-AEE), Takayla Harrell (B.S., ASME), Misbahou Jalloh (B.S., Physics), Alexandra Jones (M.S., Physics), Kaylyn Reese (Ph.D., AST-Applied Physics), Jazmine Reyes (B.S., ASME), Robert Scott (B.S., Physics), Jordan Shegog (B.S., Physics), Zion Smith (B.S., Physics), Seth Solomon (B.S., Physics), and Justice Watson (B.S., Physics). The Department of Physics is incredibly proud to be represented by such an amazing group of students at all levels! 

The opportunity for so many students to attend the NSBP Annual Conference and present their research was made possible through the generous support of a private donor, who covered the full cost of attendance for all 15 participating students. Thanks to this support, N.C. A&T brought the largest student delegation to the conference, enabling more Aggies to gain valuable professional exposure and share their scholarly work on a national stage. 

N.C. A&T alumnus Matthew Edwards ’69, Ph.D., (B.S., physics) was also honored at the NSBP Conference. Edwards was named a Fellow of NSBP, the society’s highest honor. He joins a distinguished group of only 53 NSBP Fellows to receive this lifetime honor. Dr. Edwards is currently a professor at Alabama A&M University, and AAMU’s newsletter announcing his recognition can be found here. 

2026 Ronald E. McNair Symposium Flyer

N.C. A&T State University hosted the 2026 Ronald E.  McNair Research Symposium at the Alumni Foundation Event Center Jan. 22-25, bringing together scholars, mentors, and community members to honor the legacy of Dr. Ronald E. McNair and showcase cutting-edge research by emerging scholars. 

This year’s symposium theme, “40 Years of Inspiration, Innovation and Impact: Beyond the Horizon – Continuing McNair’s Mission,” commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Challenger explosion, in which astronaut and A&T alumnus McNair lost his life. While the event paid tribute to this significant milestone, its focus remained on advancing McNair’s vision of academic excellence, research advancement, and limitless curiosity. 

On Jan. 24, three graduate students from the AST Ph.D.  program — Samir Kattel, Chelia Thompson, and Erika Williams — presented their research to attendees, faculty, and fellow scholars. 

Thompson highlighted her research on the brown carbon light absorption, Williams showcased her research on the model used for community-engaged research in higher education, and Kattel presented his research on the nighttime NO3 radical chemistry in the formation of Secondary Organic Aerosols (SOA). In his presentation, Kattel highlighted the laboratory approaches used to investigate reaction pathways and SOA yields from volatile organic compounds under NO3 dominated conditions at night. 

“This symposium was a good platform to present my research to an audience with a broader range of knowledge,” Kattel said. "I learned the value of presenting complex concepts of my research and gained insightful feedback to help strengthen the direction and impact of my research.” 

AST students’ contributions exemplify the program’s commitment to interdisciplinary discovery and the spirit of inquiry that McNair championed throughout his career. 

Please join CoST in congratulating the Applied Science &Technology doctoral candidates who successfully defended their dissertations in Fall 2025:

Stella Afolayan, Ph.D. 
Multiscale Climate Variability and Extreme Weather Comparative Analysis of Wildfire Dynamics in California and Rainfall Variability in East Africa (Dr. Ademe Mekonnen, adviser) 

Sesan Akintade, Ph.D. 
Cybersecurity Threat Mitigation through Artificial Intelligence: Integrating Feature Selection Explanatory Artificial Intelligence, Autoencoder-based Dimension Reduction and Anomaly Detection (Drs. Seong-Tae Kim and Kaushik Roy, advisers) 

Reem Alrawili, Ph.D. 
User Authentication Framework: Leveraging Vital Signs for Effortless and Continuous Identity Verification (Dr. Evelyn Sowells-Boone, adviser) 

Simachew Ashebir, Ph.D. 
Hybrid Deep-learning Algorithms for Time Series Forecasting Using Dimension-Reduction Techniques (Dr. Seong-Tae Kim, adviser) 

Yvonne Boafo, Ph.D. 
Development and Application of Statistical Models for Exposure to Multiple Environment Contaminants (Drs. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi and Sayed Mostafa, advisers) 

Rabin Dahal, Ph.D. 
Copper-based Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction (Dr. Bishnu Bastakoti, adviser) 

Juanjuan Hu, Ph.D. 
Developing Germinated, False Germinated and Fermented Oats as Novel Functional Tools
(Dr. Shengmin Sang, adviser) 

Chinedu Nzekwe, Ph.D. 
Deep Feature Screening via Variational Autoencoders for High-dimensional Data
(Drs. Seong-Tae Kim and Sayed Mostafa, advisers) 

Habtamu Workneh, Ph.D. 
Utilizing Deep Learning and Hybrid Models to Predict Streamflow (Dr. Manoj Jha, adviser)