Sunday Akanji’s

Sunday Akanji is a third-year PhD student in the Infrastructure and Environmental Systems program and a second-year master’s student in Construction and Facilities Engineering at UNC Charlotte.

Sunday earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Driven by a passion for sustainable infrastructure and the built environment, he gained four years of practical experience in the construction industry before starting his graduate studies at UNC Charlotte. His current research concentrates on enhancing the durability of concrete, exploring its socio-economic implications, and reducing its carbon footprint.

Sunday actively contributes to the graduate student community through leadership and service. He served as the Secretary of the Graduate and Professional Student Government (2024-2025), President of the Nigerian Students Association (2024-2025), Vice President of GSO-ASCE (2023-2024), Cultural Ambassador with the International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO), and is currently the President of IFMA UNC Charlotte. His academic excellence has been recognized with awards at two consecutive Graduate Research Symposiums (UNC Charlotte), and he is a 2025 recipient of the prestigious American Concrete Institute (ACI) Fellowship. He is also a published author.

Sunday is excited about the opportunity to serve as a Graduate Life Fellow (GLF), seeing it as a way to further support and improve the graduate student experience. His goals as a 2025-2025 GLF include promoting a sense of belonging and inclusivity within the graduate community, connecting students with important campus resources and support services, and encouraging student involvement.

At leisure, Sunday enjoys playing tennis with friends, swimming, hiking, and taking nature walks.