Bio

Devan is an African American, first-generation college student, and Ph.D. student in Stanford University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering - Sustainable Design and Construction-Sustainable Urban and Rural Systems program. Devan is from Houston, Texas. Devan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering - Sustainable Design and Construction - Sustainable Urban and Rural Systems from Stanford University. His interests are Energy, Health, Equity, and Sustainability. Devan is developing theoretical frameworks, creating data-driven models, and using ethnography to address poverty and inequality. Ultimately, his end goal is to improve the quality of life for communities and build a sustainable future.

Honors & Awards

  • Graduate Research Assistantship, The Natural Capital Project (2023)
  • IBUILD Program 2022 Honorable Mention Cohort, U.S. Department of Energy (2022)
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, The National Science Foundation (2022)
  • Teaching Assistantship, Stanford University / Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (2021)
  • Graduate Research Assistantship, Stanford Urban Informatics Lab (2021)
  • GEM Full Fellowship, The National GEM Consortium (2021)

Professional Affiliations and Activities

  • Historian Chair and Member, The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) (2015 - Present)
  • President and Member, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) (2016 - Present)
  • Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2017 - Present)
  • Mid America Transportation Center Scholar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2017 - Present)
  • Historically Black Colleges, Universities, and Minority Serving-Institutions Scholar, Department of the Navy (DON) (2018 - Present)
  • Member, Tau Beta Pi - Engineering Honor Society (2019 - Present)
  • Founder & President, Engineers Without Borders USA - Prairie View A&M University Chapter (2020 - Present)
  • Member, Chi Epsilon - Civil Engineering Honor Society (2021 - Present)
  • Philanthropy Chair and Graduate Leadership Council Representative, Stanford Civil & Environment Engineering - Leaders of the Built Environment (2021 - Present)

Contact

  • Academic
    University - Student Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering Position: Graduate

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 4020

Research Interests

  • Civic Education
  • Collaborative Learning
  • Data Sciences
  • Diversity and Identity
  • Economics and Education
  • Educational Policy
  • Equity in Education
  • Higher Education
  • Leadership and Organization
  • Philosophy
  • Poverty and Inequality
  • Professional Development
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Research Methods
  • Sociology
  • Technology and Education

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

Devan's research at Stanford is focused on reducing inequities in health, education, and society. Devan is leveraging multiple sources of data within the state of California and nationwide to develop a holistic Energy Poverty Index to evaluate and guide policy. Devan's research addresses disparities in racial equity by helping to identify communities and schools that are most vulnerable and at-risk based on socio-economic, health, and environmental factors.