海角社区

BATON ROUGE - Oluwafemi 鈥淔emi鈥� Awolesi, a doctoral student in 海角社区鈥檚 Department of Environmental Sciences, is making a significant impact through his innovative research on green building operations and sustainability benchmarking. Originally from Nigeria, he is also pursuing an MS in Construction Management and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Energy Policy. Under the guidance of his major professor, Dr. Margaret Reams, Femi is on track to graduate in Summer 2025. He joins a select group of students in the Department of Environmental Sciences to earn a PhD in just three years.

Femi鈥檚 dissertation introduces the Operational Sustainability Index (OPSi), a groundbreaking metric designed to bridge the gap between initial green building certification and long-term building performance. By assessing factors such as energy use, thermal comfort, and occupant experience across public libraries and university dormitories in East Baton Rouge Parish, his work emphasizes the importance of monitoring buildings after occupancy鈥攑articularly in energy-vulnerable communities. His research highlights that while certified green buildings tend to maintain higher energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction, these outcomes are only possible with ongoing evaluation and smart operational practices.

In recognition of his academic excellence and research accomplishments, Femi has received multiple prestigious honors. He is a two-time recipient of the A&WMA International Sustainability Scholarship (2023 and 2024) and has also been awarded the Gus VonBodungen Scholarship and the IFMA Fellows Scholarship. Recently inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, he exemplifies scholarly distinction within and beyond 海角社区. Earlier in his career, Femi鈥檚 entrepreneurial research on graphene-reinforced concrete won both first place and the People鈥檚 Choice Award at Mississippi State University. Most recently, his work on public acceptance of carbon capture and storage projects in Southern Louisiana earned him runner-up honors for the Air & Waste Management Association鈥檚 ACE 2025 Young Professional Best Paper Award.

Upon graduation, Awolesi plans to work with agencies and institutions at the forefront of driving sustainable urban development through optimal facility management practices and stakeholder engagement. His dedication to research and outstanding academic record continue to set a high standard for environmental science at 海角社区.