Advancing Equity and Sustainability: Jordan Joseph as a GEM Consortium Fellow

Jordan Joseph became an Associate Fellow of The National GEM Consortium in 2020, a program dedicated to increasing the representation of underrepresented groups in graduate engineering and science studies. The program offers practical summer work experiences and a fellowship covering tuition, fees, and a stipend.

Joseph acknowledges the valuable support, mentorship, and professional development opportunities provided by the GEM program, which have been instrumental in advancing his engineering career. He expresses gratitude, stating, "As a first-generation student from a low-income family, this fellowship enables me to focus on my research throughout my doctoral program."

Having completed a bachelor's degree in Engineering Science with a minor in Public Health and Mathematics from St Vincent College and a master's degree at CEE, Joseph is now pursuing a Ph.D. and conducting research under the guidance of Professors Kelvin Gregory, Costa Samaras, and Destenie Nock.

Joseph's research centers on pathways for residential decarbonization and their impact on vulnerable communities. He explores how initiatives like home energy efficiency retrofits and electrification affect equity, health, costs, and sustainability outcomes in historically marginalized neighborhoods. Through a combination of modeling methods, field experience from professional contractors, and engagement with community stakeholders, Joseph aims to enhance the quality of life for residents in affordable housing units and low-income communities.

“CMU has the largest cohort of GEM fellows in the US, which is yet another reminder of CMU’s commitment to the success of underrepresented students," he explains. Joseph aspires to impact disadvantaged communities through his career and research positively, continue serving as a mentor, and eventually establish a scholarship fund for other underrepresented students.