Team Members

Suman Mitra, Ph.D.

Dr. Suman Kumar Mitra is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. His primary research interests include travel behavior analysis of special population groups, sustainable transportation, travel demand modeling, land use-transportation interaction modeling, and transportation safety. Dr. Mitra’s research demonstrates how effectively transportation engineering can draw upon the strengths of a broad range of disciplines to inform smart-city solutions. His current research focuses on how technological advancement in transportation can best serve the disadvantaged population through the integration of transportation systems, economic activities, and land uses.

Alisha Ferguson, Ph.D.

Dr. Alishia Ferguson has been at the University of Arkansas for more than 10 years. She holds a BSW, MSSW and PhD in Social Work from the University of Texas @ Arlington. She practiced medical social work for 18 years, focusing on older adults and their families and on medical education. Currently, she is a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, for both undergraduate and graduate students. Her research interests include aging and caregiving for older adults and she is a co-investigator for the community-university initiative, Age Friendly Fayetteville. She regularly supervises social work interns in the field and serves on the Washington Regional Faith in Action board, Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.) board and Washington Regional Hospice board.

Michelle Gray, Ph.D.

Michelle Gray, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Exercise Science at the University of Arkansas.  Dr. Gray serves as the Director of the Exercise Science Research Center, Office for Studies on Aging, and the Honors Program for the College of Education and Health Professions.  Her research interests include helping older adults improve their quality of life through maintenance and improvement of physical and cognitive health.

Jennifer Webb, Ph.D.

Dr. Jennifer Webb is an Associate Professor at the Department of Interior Design, FJSA+D. She brings expertise in the interactions of the built environment and human behavior, particularly the behaviors of older adults. Specific contributions include knowledge about relevant data collection methods, health statistics of older adults in Arkansas, and has a depth of experience in multidisciplinary research projects. She will contribute to the production of project materials across all research stages final deliverables.

Mir Ali

Mr. Ali is an undergraduate student in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Anindya Debnath

Mr. Debnath is a doctoral student in the Department of Civil Engineering.