Public Health Environmental

CURRICULUM VITAE

Matthew Quansah

**** * *** **, ***********, IN 47401

Email: ********@*****.***

Tel: +1-605-***-****

EDUCATION

M.S., Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences, Dept. of Environmental & Public Health, Administration, and Medical Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky.

Major: Environmental/Occupational Health and Sustainability August 2022- August 2024

Research: Using Freshwater Planarians as an Animal Model for Assessing Neurotoxicity and Lethality of Manganese and Lead Exposure

Advisors: Prof. Donald Gary Brown & Prof. Jason W. Marion

BSc., Water and Sanitation, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.

Major: Water and Sanitation August 2012- May 2016

Capstone: Groundwater Quality in Selected Areas of Cape Coast

Advisor: Mr. Philip Dwamena-Boateng

West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate, University Practice Senior High School, Central Region, Cape Coast, Ghana.

Major: Science 1999-2002

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Summary: I bring 10 years of diverse public service experience, working with environmental agencies and higher education institutions in the USA and Ghana. At Eastern Kentucky University, I completed a 400-hour internship as an environmentalist with the Madison County Health Department, where I focused on addressing environmental issues within the county. In my most recent role as a custodian at Aramark at Eastern Kentucky University, I was responsible for ensuring that established procedures to maintain a safe working environment were followed. This included compliance with OSHA, state, local, federal, and Aramark regulations. With support from the University of Cape Coast and Water, sanitation, and hygiene services (WASH), I conducted an extensive groundwater quality analysis in rural communities to ensure public health safety. My roles as a Senior Laboratory Technician in Ghana and a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the USA have significantly promoted teaching and learning. I started my career as a middle school teacher, where I taught General Science, Social Studies & Math for five years after earning my High School Certificate.

Research Areas

Broad research areas occupational exposure to air pollutants, indoor air pollution, remediation, and respiratory deposition.

CHRONOLOGY OF UNIVERSITY AND OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE.

Full-time Custodian Staff of the Aramark Company at Eastern Kentucky University May 2024-August 2024, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, Kentucky, 40475 Duty Location: 1134 Van Hoose Dr, Richmond, Kentucky 40475, USA.

Time Committed: Full-time Service: 40 hours per week.

Description of Work and Accepted Responsibilities:

Integrated academic and research training in environmental and occupational health sciences, WASH, and epidemiology while serving as a custodian with Aramark at Eastern Kentucky University.

Ensured compliance with OSHA, state/local, federal, and Aramark regulations to maintain a safe working environment.

Maintained a clean and orderly environment to ensure the safety and health of others.

Cleaned assigned areas according to Aramark and client standards and requirements.

Accurately maintained and cleaned housekeeping equipment.

Followed procedures for storing and disposing of trash and transported waste to designated areas.

Managed building access, ensuring it was locked or unlocked as required.

Secured company assets and safeguarded the facility.

Graduate Teaching Assistant August 2022-May 2024, Dept. of Environmental & Public Health, Administration, and Medical Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, Kentucky 40475, USA.

Duty Location: Dizney Building, 4377 Kit Carson Dr, Richmond, KY 40475.

Time Committed: 20 hours per week.

Description of Work and Accepted Responsibilities:

Provided laboratory support for courses in Water and Health, Industrial Hygiene, Radiological Health and Safety, Water and Health Laboratory, and Environmental Testing at Eastern Kentucky University.

Set up laboratories and prepared standard solutions.

Assisted with student experiments during lab activities.

Taught and graded examinations and assignments.

Supported departmental processes related to student recruitment.

Troubleshot and assessed repairs for monitoring and detection equipment.

Ensured that materials, equipment, and supplies were readily accessible to staff.

Assisted with the supervision of Air, Industrial Hygiene, and Water laboratories.

Utilized various instruments including air sampling pumps, calibrators, thermal anemometers, colorimeters, sound level meters, noise dosimeters, radiation scaler-ratemeters, IAQ meters, multi-gas meters, and particulate monitors for environmental assessment.

Judge for Kentucky Science and Engineering Fair-KY-SEF March 2023-March 2024, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, Kentucky 40475, USA.

Description of Work:

Responsible for selecting the best National Geographic Award Category student.

Assisted with preparing and setting up for the program.

Judge for both High School and Middle award on Science and Technology

NEPHIP Environmental Health Internship (CDC) July 2023-September 2023, Madison County Health Department, Public Health Department, Richmond, Kentucky 40475, USA.

Location: 214 Boggs Ln, Richmond, KY 40475

Time Committed: Full-time, 40 hours per week.

Description of Work:

Investigated dog bites and managed dog quarantines for rabies control in Madison County, Kentucky.

Conducted inspections of public swimming pools to protect public health and safety

Conducted inspections of food establishments (e.g., McDonald's, Domino's Pizza, Panda Express, Subway) to ensure regulatory compliance, prevent contamination, safeguard consumer health, identify potential hazards, and maintain quality assurance.

Inspected retail stores (e.g., Walmart, Walgreens, Kroger) to verify chemical use and pollution control measures, ensure proper waste management and recycling practices, and assess compliance with environmental regulations.

Conducted countywide inspections of hotels and motels to assess pest infestations, food safety and hygiene practices, sanitation and cleanliness, occupational health and safety standards, chemical safety in storage and handling, and emergency preparedness, including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and evacuation procedures.

Performed on-site wastewater evaluations (septic tanks) to prevent contamination of drinking water sources (groundwater and surface water), assess system functionality to prevent overflows, and promote education and awareness on proper septic maintenance.

Addressed public nuisances such as trash overflow and septic leakage to prevent the spread of diseases and harmful pathogens, protect community aesthetics and quality of life, mitigate nuisance complaints, and prevent water pollution.

Teaching Assistant August 2016-September 2017, University of Cape Coast, Department of Chemistry, Central Region, Ghana.

Time Committed: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Description of Work:

Conducted pre-lab sessions

Graded assignments

Supervised undergraduate chemistry laboratory work

Prepared analytical-grade reagents for experiments

Set up laboratories for experiments

Calibrated instruments for analytical and inorganic chemistry experiments

Microbial risk assessment of surface, groundwater, and potable water

Senior Laboratory Technician October 2017- November 2021, University of Cape Coast, Department of Chemistry, Central Region, Ghana.

Time Committed: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Description of Work:

Supervised undergraduate final-year project work

Prepared analytical-grade reagents for lab analysis

Oversaw undergraduate chemistry experiments

Analyzed potable water for public health and safety

Maintained the laboratory, including repair, maintenance, and calibration of equipment

Chemistry Practical Science Tutor August 2018-November 2021, College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.

Time Committed: Part-time, 6 hours per week

Description of Work:

Set up the laboratory for the chemistry experiment

Graded the practical chemistry write-ups

Prepared standard solutions for the chemistry experiment

Conducted pre-lab sessions

Internship May 2015-August 2015, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Water Research Institute, Accra, Ghana.

Time Committed: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Description of Work:

Prepared standards for calibration curves, standard solutions, and reagents for routine water quality analysis

Analyzed potable water (e.g., tap water, bottled water) and surface water (e.g., streams and rivers) to ensure compliance with Ghana Drinking Water Standards (GDWS) and EPA regulations

Assisted in managing sample storage protocols

Conducted quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) activities

Laboratory Assistant Grade-II January 2008- July 2012, University of Cape Coast, Department of Chemistry, Central Region, Ghana.

Time Committed: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Description of Work:

Assisted senior technicians with setting up the laboratory for chemistry experiments, prepared standard solutions, and washed glassware.

Junior High School Teacher September 2002- July 2007, Tuwohofo-Holly International School, Central Region Cape Coast, Ghana.

Time Committed: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Description of Work:

Taught Social Studies, Mathematics, and General Science

Prepared students for mathematics and science quiz competitions at the metropolitan level

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Organization

Role

Year

EKU Student AIHA Chapter

Member

2022-2024

EKU student Environmental Health Club

Member

2022-2024

National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

Member

2023-present

ACADEMIC AWARDS

Award

University/Institution

Year

Graduate Student of the Year

Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA.

2024

Graduate Environmental Health Science Service Award

Dept. of Environmental & Public Health, Administration, & Medical Sciences, Richmond, KY 40475, USA

2024

Full-time Graduate Teaching Assistant (tuition waiver & monthly stipend)

Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475, USA.

2022-2024

Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly High School Scholarship (Full tuition waiver, room, board, and textbooks)

University Practice Senior High School, Central Region, Cape Coast, Ghana.

1999-2002

CONFERENCES

CONFERENCE

YEAR

Kentucky Environmental Health Association ‘54th Annual Education Conference’

2024

Environmental Health Science Association ‘28th Annual Environmental Health Science Symposium’

2024

John P. Wyatt, M.D. Environment and Health Symposium, University of Kentucky.

2024

Kentucky Environmental Health Association ‘53rd Annual Education Conference’

2023

Environmental Health Science Association ‘27th Annual Environmental Health Science Symposium’

2023

RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION

M. Quansah, J.W. Marion, and D.G. Brown. Using Freshwater Planarians as an Animal Model for Assessing Neurotoxicity and Lethality of Manganese and Lead Exposure. 2024 John P. Wyatt, M.D. Environment and Health Symposium, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA. April.

SELECTED GRADUATE-LEVEL COURSEWORK

Public Health

Environmental Health

Human Behavior Change

Total Worker Health

Public Health Org and Admin

Air Quality Assessment

Public Health Planning

Environmental Toxicology

Biostatistics in Health Science

Radiological Health & Safety

Research Methods in Public Health

Emerging and Re- Infectious Diseases

Intro to Environmental Health Science

Applied Learning in Env. Health Science

Principles of Epidemiology

Grad Project in Environmental Health

SELECTED UNDERGRADUATE COURSEWORK

Chemistry

Applied Chemistry, Environmental, Biology & Mathematics

Physical Chemistry I

Physics I & Physics II

Organic Chemistry

Environmental Microbiology

Analytical Chemistry

Diversity of Living things

Physical Chemistry II

Algebra & Trigonometry

Physical/Inorganic Chemistry Practical

Further Calculus

Organic Chemistry Practical

Analytic Geometry and Calculus

Environmental Chemistry

Ecology

REFERENCES

Gary Donald Brown, Ph.D.

Professor/Graduate Coordinator

Department of Environmental Health Science

Dizney Building 220, Office #239

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 40475

Email: ****.*****@***.***

Tel: 859-***-****

Frederick Ato Armah, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Environmental Science

University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Email: ******@***.***.**

Tel: +233*********

Vonia Grabeel, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor/Undergraduate Coordinator

Department of Environmental Health Science

Dizney Building 220, Office # 223

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 40475

Email: *****.*******@***.***

Tel: 859-***-****

Jason W. Marion, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Environmental Health Science

Dizney Building 220, Office # 233

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 40475

Email: *****.******@***.***

Tel:859-***-****

Samuel Kakraba, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Center for Aging, Tulane University School of Medicine

Email: ********@******.***

Tel: 423-***-****

Sam Metcalfe, R.S

Environmental Director

Madison County Health Department, Richmond, Kentucky

Email: ***.********@***********.***

Tel: 859-***-****

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