GEOGRAPHY · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
I’m Sylvia Mensah, a geographer exploring how climate variability and groundwater–surface water interactions shape our rivers and water security.
My work connects hydroclimate research with geospatial analysis to understand environmental change.
I am a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Geography at the University of Florida. Supported by the Graduate School Opportunity Award, I work under the supervision of Dr. Johanna Engstrom, applying geospatial analysis to environmental datasets.
My research interests include streamflow regime change, groundwater–surface water interactions, hydroclimate variability, and water security. Alongside research, I bring experience in GIS instruction, environmental education mapping, and community outreach.
University of Florida · Gainesville, FL
Oklahoma State University · Stillwater, OK
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology · Kumasi, Ghana
Selected work across hydrology,
geospatial analysis, and water security.
Master’s thesis examining streamflow regime shifts in southeastern Oklahoma, connecting my interests in climate variability and the hydrologic behavior of perennial rivers.
Advisor: Dr. Thomas LaVanchy
Related manuscript in preparationSpatio-temporal analysis of municipal water demand and aquifer recharge dynamics in the Blue River Watershed, Oklahoma (2014–2023).
Oklahoma State UniversitySocioeconomic impacts on water insecurity in the Blue River Watershed, with a focus on Johnston and Bryan Counties.
Oklahoma State UniversityTracking urban heat island effects on the OSU campus through remote sensing and community perceptions.
Oklahoma State UniversityUsing the DRASTIC model to estimate groundwater vulnerability in selected districts in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.
KNUSTCo-authored with G. Dumedah and colleagues.
S. Mensah & G. T. LaVanchy
2026 · Oklahoma Clean Lakes and Watersheds Association
Hydroclimatic variability and streamflow response in the Glover River Basin, southeastern Oklahoma (2003–2023). Stillwater, Oklahoma.
2025 · Governor’s Water Conference and Research Symposium
Assessing the impacts of climate variation and hydrological changes on perennial streams in southeastern Oklahoma (1990–2022). Norman, Oklahoma.
2025 · Southwestern Association of American Geographers
Trends and climate controls of streamflow in perennial streams in southeastern Oklahoma (1990–2022). Las Cruces, New Mexico.
2023 · KNUST Research Conference Week
Evaluating transport infrastructure provision at public transport terminals: A case study of communities in the Oforikrom Municipality. Kumasi, Ghana.
Research, teaching, and applied work
across the United States and Ghana.
University of Florida
Geographic research and geospatial analysis of environmental datasets, supported by the Graduate School Opportunity Award.
EcoRise · Gen:Thrive
Supported national environmental education mapping through geospatial data cleaning, survey analysis, organizational reporting, and a capacity assessment of Virginia’s environmental education network.
Oklahoma State University
Taught physical geography and GIS labs, guiding students in spatial analysis, cartographic design, geoprocessing, climate, and hydrology.
KNUST
Supported remote sensing and applied GIS instruction, undergraduate research design, literature reviews, and field data collection.
Work Control Student · OSU Facilities Management
June–August 2025. Campus operations, service requests, and records management.
Fieldwork Assistant · VREF Project
May–July 2023. Transport survey data collection in Accra, Ghana.
Physical Planner Intern · Ashaiman Municipal Assembly
October–December 2021. Environmental compliance, QGIS digitization, and GPS mapping for sustainable planning.
ArcGIS Pro / QGIS / Google Earth Engine / SNAP
R / Python / IBM SPSS / GeoDa
Founder & Lead, Girls in Geography Ghana (G3)
Since 2025, I have led an outreach initiative introducing secondary school girls in Ghana to geography, GIS, and geospatial career pathways.
University of Florida
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Association of American Geographers
Oklahoma Water Resources Center Award · 2025
Ghana Scholarship Secretariat Award · 2020–2022
Exemplary Member, KNUST YouthMappers · 2021–2022
KNUST Bursary Award · 2021
Overall Best Geography Student, OPASS · 2016
American Association of Geographers / Society of Woman Geographers / Gamma Theta Upsilon
For research, teaching, and geography outreach.
Department of Geography
University of Florida · Gainesville, Florida