Dr. Boakai Robertson

Member, Board of Trustees
Director of the office Research & Innovation

Dr. Boakai K. Robertson is Professor of Microbiology and Executive Director for the Center of Excellence in Forestry, Biodiversity, and Conservation. He served as Executive Director of Graduate Programs in the biological sciences at Alabama State University (ASU) and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the Research and Innovation at Cavalla International University (CIU), currently serving on the Board of Directors of CIU. He served as the Chief of Party for HECA (Higher Education for Conservation). He also served as Chair of Institutional Biosafety and Director of EnvironMentors and Marine Biology programs. He is major advisor for several graduate and undergraduate students’ research and thesis. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees fromCornell University in Environmental Microbiology and Toxicology, BS in Chemistry and  few years of Medicine at the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, University of Liberia. His research focuses on the following: (1) fate (bioremediation or degradation) of toxic chemicals or xenobiotics that are either deliberately or accidentally discharged to the environment; (2) Role (including antibiotic resistance and virulent features) of a group of aquatic related organisms, namely, Aeromonas, known to cause a number of extra-intestinal diseases in humans and fish and their contribution to drinking water contamination; (3) relevance of human gut microbiome in obesity, diabetes and other disease conditions; and (4) The role of specific microbes and molecular mechanisms in transformation of Hg in soil and sediment. He has authored more than 100 publications including textbook chapters and presented more than 150 papers at national and international conferences including conferences in India, China, Jamaica, Bahamas, Great Britain, UAE, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal and Liberia. He is recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including awards from the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) and Education Testing Services; the Community Green Award from ABC 32 WNCF; Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence at Alabama State University; the U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) NAFEO award; Visiting Scientist at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Environmental Genetics and Molecular Toxicology Division; the Ken and Mary lynch Award for excellence in Environmental Stewardship, ASPB Executive Travel Award, Cornell University Best Young Teacher and Curriculum Development award; Rockefeller Foundation Fellow and Fulbright Scholar awards, and A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine Highest Achievement Scholar award. He is recipient of numerous grants including National Council for Science and the Environment, the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Department of Defense, the U.S. EPA, industries and private foundations. He has served on editorial boards for several magazines and journals including Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Alabama Academic of Sciences, Southeastern Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, and Science@ASU Magazine. He also serves on the board of several organizations including, Environmental Justice, Dauphin Island Sea-Lab, Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, Africa Environmental Watch, University Consortium of Liberia and the LIONS Club. Serve as consultants on environmental impact assessment, organize workshops on climate science education and training.