Jake B. Smithwick, Ph.D., MPA, FMP
Associate Professor & Graduate Program Director • UNC Charlotte
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Research Team

I am fortunate to work with talented graduate students who contribute to applied research in facilities benchmarking, procurement, workforce development, and construction safety. Below are the current members of the group and alumni who have moved on to impactful careers.

4 PhD Students Chaired
9 MS Students Supervised
40+ Committee Memberships

Current Students

PhD and MS students actively working in the research group.

Juliana Somuah

Juliana Somuah

LEAD RESEARCHER

Mentoring Best Practices for the Facilities Management Workforce (supporting IFMA Grant #16-082) 

Expected PhD Graduation: Fall 2026

Aric Barto

Aric Barto

Ph.D. Student

Bridging the Skilled Labor Gap in Construction: Workforce Recruitment, Retention, and Technological Adaptation

Expected PhD Graduation: Fall 2026

Ph.D. Alumni

Doctoral graduates who completed their dissertations under my supervision.

Justin Dodd

Justin Dodd, Ph.D.

PhD • Graduated Summer 2021

Maximizing Benchmarking Initiatives in the Built Environment for Sustained Continuous Improvement

Eastern Kentucky University
Dipin Kasana

Dipin Kasana, Ph.D.

PhD • Graduated Summer 2021

Evaluating Organizational Readiness to Implement Change Within the Workplace

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)

M.S. Alumni

Master’s graduates (thesis and project) supervised as chair or co-chair.

NA

Nada Aboelmagd

M.S. Thesis • Spring 2025

Nneka Ubi

Nneka Ubi

M.S. Thesis • Spring 2024

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)

ND

Neetu Donkada

M.S. Thesis (Co-Chair) • Fall 2023

Bhagyashree Rathod

Bhagyashree Rathod

M.S. Thesis • Summer 2023

Arup

NA

Kurrisa Vialet

M.S. Thesis • Summer 2023

Dan Stroder

Dan Stroder

M.S. Project • Fall 2021

City of Charlotte

Monisha Mahendrababu

Monisha Mahendrababu

M.S. Thesis • Fall 2018

Northwood Ravin

NG

Nikhil Gopalkrishnan

M.S. Project • Fall 2018

Interested in Joining?

I work with graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) on applied research in facilities benchmarking, procurement, workforce development, and construction safety. If these areas interest you, I’d welcome a conversation about potential opportunities.

Get in Touch

Research Overview

Learn more about the four core research themes that guide our group’s work, from global facilities benchmarking to construction project delivery.

View Research Themes