Staff
Dr. Samuel Washington has over 32 years of combined experience in higher education and industry. Dr. Washington currently serves as Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies at Southern University, Baton Rouge.
Dr. Washington was instrumental in initiating the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program and Student Mentor-Protégé Program at Southern University, which led to the development of contracting work with various federal agencies. The Center for Energy and Environmental Studies is now leading historically Black Colleges and Universities in contracting with the federal government, with over $25 million in contract awards over the last 15 years. His experience with the Mentor-Protégé and contract programs at Southern allows him to provide oversight, coordination, and guidance to task managers, staff, and faculty who will work on various projects at the Baton Rouge Campus. Prior to his work at Southern, Dr. Washington worked for 20 years in the field of research and development at Dow Chemical, Plaquemines, Louisiana.
Doctorate of Philosophy in Analytical Chemistry, 2007 Louisiana State University
Master of Science in Organic Chemistry, 1976 University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, 1973 Northeast State University, Monroe, LA
Ademola Oloko has served as Resource and Fiscal Manager for the Center since 1995. He has been instrumental and responsible for oversight of all financial transactions including contract bids/negotiations, operational and grants/contracts activities and development and monitoring of all subcontract agreements. Advise principal investigators on protocols regarding University and State policies on contract agreements, terms and conditions. Review and interpret policies, rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to externally funded research and contract projects to ensure compliance. Provide monthly, quarterly and annual reports as required. Supervision of Accounts and billing system includes selection, installation and training for the use of new software for project management, Financial and budgetary applications. Reconcile federal grant accounts and prepare requested account analysis. Perform periodic cost studies-survey of fee structures, cost of services, and work methods.
M.B.A. - Management. 1984 Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA B.S. - Accounting. 1982 Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, LA
Deanna Smith
With more than 22 years of experience in higher education programs and project development, Deanna is the Executive Director for Strategic Engagement at Southern University and A&M College, Office of Research. Deanna has helped secure and manage federal contract awards in excess of $20MM. These contract awards have been granted by multiple federal agencies, including three IDIQ prime contract awards through the Department of Defense.
A three-time team member recipient of the prestigious DOD NUNN Perry Award for her role in excellence in HBCU/MI contract management, Deanna has leveraged her experience and extended it to helping small businesses and HBCUs develop proficient internal processes for efficient federal procurement participation. During her tenure, she has placed over 50 student interns at federal agencies with high-security clearances across the country through federal contracting opportunities.
Deanna has developed small business programs that target small and rural business owners in understanding the federal procurement process; planning and responding to federal procurement opportunities; marketing small business capabilities to the government, building capacity, creating partnerships, and improving contract management and administration.
Deanna has been featured as a speaker, panelist, and facilitator at contracting and procurement conferences and workshops. Her topics include: Doing Business with HBCUs; Is Your Business Contract Ready; In Position for Opportunity; and HBCU Global Trade Initiatives.
Passionate about promoting women in business, Deanna serves as Co-Chair of the 101 Women in Business Conference. Her personal endeavors include serving as Director of Outreach and Co-Founder of the Reimagine Women's Center (RWC) Business Resource and Innovation
Hub, located in the center of the Baton Rouge North District. The RWC is the Capital Cities' first minority-owned, female lead women's business resource center.
She is a two-time graduate of Southern University and holds certificates in Contract Management from Villanova University, Edward Lowe Foundation Peer Spectives Facilitator, and FEMA Disaster Recovery Leadership Certificate in Higher Education.
Dr. Femi Ekanoye has over 14 years of industry experience in Information and Communication Technology. He is a Master Project Manager(MPM) and Certified International Project Manager(CIPM) licensed by the American Academy of Project Management (AAMP).
During his research fellowship, Dr. Ekanoye worked with the Management Information Systems undergraduate students of Southern University and A&M College in developing scholarly publications on Telemedicine and Electronic Health Records. He is currently working on articles that relate to the emergence of robust Mobile virtual Network operators in Africa and how telecommunications companies in the United States can tap into the realities of these new markets. He has been a Co-Principal investigator in a research grant sponsored by the Louisiana Board of Regents on the "Southern University Health Information Technology" grant. He has worked on a Thurgood Marshall grant for the development of STEM-related programs in Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States.
As a Research Assistant, he is currently managing the database system for the Office of Governmental Contracting, Center for Energy and Environmental Studies.
Doctor of Philosophy in Information and Communication Technology, 2020 The ICT University. Masters in Communication Management, 2013 Buckinghamshire New University, England. Bachelor's Degree, Electronics Business, Ashworth College, Georgia.
