Contact Information:
- Office: 457 Weil Hall
- Email: mary.nwanua@ufl.edu
Area of Research:
- Professional formation of engineers; Communication skill development; Psychological wellbeing in construction and civil engineering; Mental Wellness in Construction and civil engineering; Technological resilience of construction professionals.
Education:
- B.S., Quantity Surveying, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 2018
- M.Sc., Quantity Surveying (Infrastructure Cost Management), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 2023
Biography:
Mary Ifeoma Nwanua joined the Simmons Research Lab in August 2023 as a research student. With a strong background as an accomplished quantity surveyor, Mary practiced in Nigeria before transitioning into academia to pursue her passion for engineering and professional development.
Currently, her research focuses on the professional formation of engineers, particularly on developing effective communication skills. She has contributed to the development of a Self-Determined Communicator survey, aiming to empower engineering students to recognize their agency in skill development. Her work seeks to inspire students to become the agentic communicators that employers value in the engineering field.
In addition to her work on communication, Mary is deeply invested in promoting mental wellness among engineers. Her research explores strategies to enhance psychological wellbeing within the engineering profession. She is also committed to addressing the challenges posed by technological advances in the workplace, striving to find a balance between the benefits of technology and the stress it can induce, known as technostress.
Through her efforts, Mary aims to influence both research and practice, fostering resilience, wellness, and skill development among current and future engineers. Mary Nwanua CV