N.C. A&T Marketing and Supply Chain Professor Receives Fulbright Award to Cameroon

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 29, 2026) – Laquanda Johnson, Ph.D., a professor in the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has been awarded a Fulbright grant to Cameroon.

Johnson will spend a month teaching lectures and establishing a framework for international research partnerships between North Carolina A&T and the National Advanced School of Public Works in Yaoundé.

Through her project, “Entrepreneurship, Supply Chains, and Project Management: Enhancing the Pipeline of Engineering Management Students,” she will collaborate with students and faculty in Yaoundé to strengthen interdisciplinary training at the intersection of business and engineering.

“I can continue to establish research partnerships globally, and it allows us to advance our footprint on an international scale,” said Johnson. “I have the opportunity to take my research to that level and work with faculty members at the university who are doing work in similar areas.”

Johnson’s work will focus on expanding students’ understanding of global supply chain systems, entrepreneurial thinking and project management strategies essential to infrastructure and economic development. She will deliver three seminars focusing on purchasing and supply management, operations management and project management, while also engaging in panels and discussions with faculty to identify opportunities for academic collaboration, innovation, supply chain management and joint research initiatives.

Johnson’s current research focuses on healthcare and service supply chains, particularly in rural healthcare and transportation. Her work examines “dual desert” communities, or areas with limited access to both healthcare and pharmacy services, and applies optimization and statistical models to identify gaps while improving accessibility, efficiency and overall system effectiveness. She is also an active member of the Decision Sciences Institute and previously served as vice president of student research for the Southeast Decision Sciences Institute.

Johnson has a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in industrial engineering with a concentration in supply chain management and operations research from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and A&T. She also received an MBA from North Carolina State University.

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. Fulbright recipients are selected based on academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to public service.

“I want other faculty members to know that being awarded a Fulbright is obtainable,” said Johnson. “I’m hoping that this will open the door for many others to pursue similar opportunities.”

Johnson said the experience will not only advance her research and teaching, but also open doors for future partnerships that benefit students and faculty A&T. Additionally, her Fulbright award underscores the university’s commitment to global scholarship and innovation.