On Tuesday, November 19, 2025, a team from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), USA, comprising Dr. Erica Marquez, Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, and Ms. Laurencia Bonsu, a KNUST alumna and current PhD student at UNLV, paid a courtesy visit to Professor Edmund Ekuadzi, Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO), KNUST.
Their visit to Ghana formed part of Ms. Bonsu’s dissertation titled “Mapping Contamination and Measuring Risk: A Three-Paper Dissertation on Lead Exposure from Drinking Water Sources in Ghana through Scoping Review, Spatial Analysis, and Field-Based Assessment.” As part of the research, the team conducted fieldwork and collected data in Juaso, Konongo, and Domeabra, supported by Dr. Kwame Obeng, Lecturer in the Department of Geomatic Engineering, who accompanied them throughout the process.
Dr. Marquez, who supervises Ms. Bonsu’s doctoral research, noted that the visit also aimed at exploring broader areas of collaboration, particularly joint research initiatives and co-supervision opportunities. She expressed appreciation for the support received from Dr. Obeng and indicated a strong interest in further collaborative research with him. She further highlighted interest in developing a formalised partnership to support student mobility, both travel and non-travel based, and expressed UNLV’s openness to collaborating with KNUST to build a global health programme at UNLV.
Dr. Marquez, who supervises Ms. Bonsu’s dissertation, noted that their visit also aims to explore broader collaboration opportunities—particularly in joint research and co-supervision of graduate students. and reaffirmed plans for future collaborative research with him. She further highlighted interest in developing a formalised partnership to support student mobility, both travel and non-travel based, and expressed UNLV’s openness to collaborating with KNUST to build a global health programme.
Professor Ekuadzi warmly welcomed the team, reaffirming KNUST’s commitment to building strategic, active, and mutually beneficial partnerships that yield real outcomes. He reaffirmed KNUST’s dedication to creating opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students. He also outlined the process of formalising partnerships through a Memorandum of Understanding, including the periodic reporting mechanisms used to track progress. He concluded by wishing the team well for the remainder of their visit.
Also present were Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, Senior Assistant Registrar; Ms. Ernestine Oheneba Danso, Collaborations and Partnerships Officer; and Mr. Joel Mensah, Inbound and Outbound Exchange Officer, all from the International Programmes Office.
