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

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.

All Publications

  • Quantifying the Impacts of Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits and Nature Exposure on Chronic Student Absenteeism Addison-Turner, D. C., Li, Y., Daily, G. C. Elsevier . Social Science Research Network (SSRN). 2026 95

    Abstract

    Chronic absenteeism—defined as missing 10% or more of school days—affects over 14 million United States students, with rates nearly doubling since the COVID-19 pandemic and disproportionately impacting disadvantaged communities. Schools function as socioeconomic hubs where compounding barriers related to housing, transportation, health, and environmental conditions converge to shape attendance outcomes. While socioeconomic and demographic factors are established risk factors, the role of equitable infrastructure investments in addressing these interconnected barriers remains underexplored. This study provides the first large-scale evidence linking school energy efficiency retrofits funded through California's Proposition 39 Clean Energy Jobs Act to attendance outcomes. We quantified the impact of retrofits and nature exposure on chronic absenteeism across 2,686 K-12 schools (2020–2024) using Multivariate Imputation by Chained Equations with Bayesian inference and optimal propensity score matching, controlling for 16 equity and sustainability covariates. Nature exposure demonstrated the largest standalone effect, with schools exhibiting 6.88% lower chronic absenteeism (d = 0.44, p < .001; n = 2,035). Combined lighting, pumps, motors, and drives retrofits with nature exposure were associated with 5.49% lower chronic absenteeism (d = 0.41, p < .001; AUC = 0.716). Preliminary evidence suggests pumps, motors, and drives retrofits alone were associated with 5.58% lower chronic absenteeism with medium effect size (d = 0.60, p < .05; n = 18), though limited sample size necessitates replication before definitive conclusions. Nature exposure achieved the highest return on investment (16.1%, 6.2-year payback), with estimated annual savings of $37,525 and 3,191 recovered instructional days annually—the only intervention meeting the 10-year policy benchmark. These findings position K-12 schools as strategic socioeconomic hubs where equitable infrastructure investments simultaneously reduce chronic absenteeism, improve indoor environmental quality through enhanced ventilation and thermal comfort, and advance SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) while supporting Paris Agreement commitments, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2511-3680