Faculty Advisor
Jonathan D. Essoka is an avid urban environmentalist with an interest in promoting equity and sustainability in disadvantaged communities. He has an educational and professional background in engineering and environmental science and policy. Dr. Essoka earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Science from Drexel University, where he researched the effects brownfields revitalization projects on environmental justice communities. For over 15 years he has served in an engineering capacity, as an environmental consultant and as a part-time instructor at several Philadelphia-area universities.
Dr. Essoka is employed as an engineer and scientist by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office in Philadelphia. He engages his professional passion by working in environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically distressed communities to develop holistic environmental solutions for their residents. This includes administering multiple regulatory programs, applying sustainability principles, fostering partnerships and promoting environmental equity to encourage comprehensive urban watershed restoration. Recently, Jonathan assumed a new job responsibility as the Superfund & Technology Liaison to the Philadelphia office. In this position, he provides innovative technological solutions for contaminated site project managers and promotes research science to the regional office as a tool to address program issues.
In his “free” time, while not raising his young son, Dr. Essoka is co-Board Chairperson for Earth Force, a non-profit organization which “engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future.” Jonathan also sits on the Environmental Leadership Program’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Network Advisory Committee and contributes locally as Vice-Chairperson for Cheltenham Township’s Economic Development Task Force.