Adjoa Richardson Ahedor

Dr. Adjoa Richardson Ahedor is an Associate Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Biological Sciences at Hampton University’s School of Science. She holds a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Oklahoma and has held prior academic positions at Rose State College and the University of Oklahoma. Her expertise lies in botany, systematics, evolutionary biology, environmental science, and STEM education.

• Ph.D. in Botany, University of Oklahoma (2007)
• M.S. in Biology, Idaho State University (2001)
• M.Phil. in Botany, University of Ghana (1998)
• B.S. (Honors) in Botany with Zoology, University of Ghana (1992)

Her research focuses on molecular systematics and comparative anatomy and physiology of plant species, particularly Bacopa, Mecardonia, Stemodia, and Quercus. She integrates morphological, microscopic, and genetic tools to study plant taxonomy, physiology, and distribution. She also investigates invasive species’ adaptation mechanisms, especially in Juniperus virginiana.

Her recent publications, spanning 2015–2019, emphasize plant systematics, seed morphology, and ecophysiology, contributing to authoritative works like the Flora of North America. These works reflect a strong trend in taxonomic revision, morphological analysis, and environmental adaptation studies within the Plantaginaceae family and invasive conifers.

She has received several honors, including:

• NISOD Excellence Award
• Sabbatical Leave Award (Rose State College)
• University of California Regents Scholarship for Reciprocity
• University of Ghana Graduate Merit Scholarship

Dr. Ahedor has mentored numerous undergraduate students, many of whom are co-authors on her publications. She has developed curricula and taught diverse courses in botany, environmental science, and general biology across traditional, online, and inquiry-based modalities. She has also secured sabbatical funding and contributed to educational resources such as laboratory manuals. She is actively involved in professional service as a College Board/ETS Reader for AP Biology and through memberships in the Botanical Society of America and the American Society of Plant Taxonomists.

While no formal lab name is mentioned, her research involves investigative tools such as microscopy and genetic markers, suggesting an active undergraduate research laboratory focused on plant systematics and physiology at Hampton University.