Dr. Andy (Kwaku) Kusi-Appiah
Environmental philosopher/Political ecologist
PhD, Human Geography | Researcher | Educator | Consultant
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Environmental philosopher/Political ecologist
PhD, Human Geography | Researcher | Educator | Consultant
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
I believe in inclusive, experiential learning-centered education that empowers critical thinking and engagement with socio-spatial knowledge.
Kusi-Appiah, A. & Mkandawire, P. (2025). Social Relations of Water Access among the Urban Poor in Malawi (Forthcoming, Summer 2025 by Water Alternatives Journal).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Geography Adds Value to All Scholarship: Construing the Obvious in Geographical Space ” Qeios, 7. ISSN: 2632-3834.
https://www.qeios.com/read/BX6JV4.2/pdf. This article was also presented as a poster at the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference held in Ottawa (May 20-23, 2025).
Chunga, B. A., Kusi-Appiah, A., Masangano, C. & Mwamsamali, O. K. (2022). Environmental and social consequences for moving beyond archaic legislation and policy: delay and disjoint in water governance, Malawi’, Water Policy, 24(2), pp. 470–484. doi: 10.2166/wp.2022.257.
Kusi-Appiah, A. & Mkandawire, P. (2022). Political ecology of household water security among the urban poor in Malawi, Journal of Wellbeing, Space and Society, (3).
Chunga, B.A., Ungwe, A., & Kusi-Appiah, A. (2023). Impacts of coronavirus on water demand and supply in the Towns of Malawi: Recounting the compulsory handwashing preventative regulation. Nojiyeza, I.S., Shokane, A. L., Mensah, J.V. Todd, I. (eds.), Conceptualization: Community Engagement, COVID-19 & Human & Social Sciences. Africa Century Editions Press [ACE Press].
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). Echoes of Environmental Justice: A Book of Poems. Petra Books, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Ubuntu Unbound: Breaking Barriers, Burning Snow, Building Champions.” Petra Books, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A & Majdoub, M.M. (2025). “Koole’s Journey: A Story of Survival, Triumph, Legacy and Sustainability.” Petra Books, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Forthcoming).
Unpublished Academic Manuscripts
Kusi-Appiah, A. (n.d.). Canada’s water-related human rights obligations: A focus on Indigenous Peoples. (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A & Abrahams, N. (2025).“Decolonizing Education in Ghana: A Critical Examination of Ghana’s Education System and its Impact on Ghanaian Society.” (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Proposal for the establishment of The Environment & Society Hub at Carleton University. (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Unearthing Deforestation and Water Pollution: A Political Ecology of Mining in Kayelekera, Karonga District, Malawi, Using Geomatics.” (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Sickle Cell Disease Prevention in Ukerewe District, Tanzania: A Pilot Project.” (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Location, Location, Location: Retracing von Thünen’s Location Model in the Tariff Zone of Ottawa.” (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. & Mkandawire, P. (2025). “Cultural Influences of Water Use among Poor Women in urban Malawi. (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Indigenous & Local Knowledge Systems and Mzuzu City: Invoking Local Knowledge for Climate Resilience.” Presented as a poster at the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference held in Ottawa (May 20-23, 2025).
Kusi-Appiah, A (2025). “Canadian Landscapes, Environmental Vision, & the National Gallery of Canada: An Anamnesis.” Presented as a poster at the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference held in Ottawa (May 20-23, 2025).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Language As A Spell: Weaving Spatial Identities & Cultural Heritage.” (forthcoming). This paper was presented orally at the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference held in Ottawa (May 20-23, 2025).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2025). “Geography Adds Value to All Scholarship: Construing the Obvious in Geographical Space ” Qeios, 7. ISSN: 2632-3834 https://www.qeios.com/read/BX6JV4.2/pdf. This article was presented orally at the Canadian Association of Geographers Conference held in Ottawa (May 20-23, 2025).
Kusi-Appiah, A (2025). Empowering Black Youth in Ottawa: A Forward-looking proposal. Presented to the Black Ottawa Caucus, May 12, 2025)
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2024). “Misconstruing has been the human gaze: An architecture student must not learn geography, it does not add anything to their scholarship.” Forthcoming.
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2024). “Urbanism Laboratory in the Anthropocene: Designing the inclusive City for the AI future.” (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2024). "Tackling the Social Determinants of Health in Situ. A Troublemaker's Rant." Forthcoming.
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2024). Canada’s water-related human rights obligations: A focus on Indigenous Peoples. (Forthcoming).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2024). “Extreme weather events and the health and productivity of agricultural workers.” October 2024.
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2024). Effectiveness of Climate-Health Policies: Building on UN practices. September 2024
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2024). Indigenous and local knowledge systems and climate resilience. August 2024.
Kusi-Appiah, A (2019). “First epistle to our beloved Find Your Feet (FYF) managers: The FYF I heard of and saw, local knowledge and sustainable development in motion.” August 8, 2019.
Kusi-Appiah, A (2019). “Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: The Political Ecology of Local Knowledge, Water Access and Adaptation Techniques in Mzilawaingwe, Mzuzu, Malawi.” (July 24, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “The Academic-Policy Divide: Geographies of Knowledge, Action, and Collaboration.” (July 22, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A (2019). “The Dearth of Academic-Policy Engagement: A Conversation Starter.” (July 20, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “What Would African ‘Geographers’ Say? Geography and the African Condition.” (July 18, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Tales of a Possible Africa: Proposing New Academic Directions for Africanist Geography.” (July 16, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “What Would African ‘Geographers’ Say? Geography and the African Condition.” (July 14, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A (2019). “Decolonizing Geographies of Development: ‘Ethnogeography’, ‘Ethnophilosophy’, and the Question of Alternative Knowledges.” (July 12, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Decolonizing Geographies of Development: Critical Perspectives from Malawi.” (July 10, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Dear Old Africa: The Continent We Know and Love.” (July 8, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “No Better Development than People’s Development.” (July 6, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Struggle, Dignity, and Rural Livelihoods in Mzimba, Malawi.” (July 4, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Village Tales from Malawi: Water, Women, and the Will to Thrive.” (July 2, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Finding the Future in Our Past: Community Narratives of Environmental Change.” (June 30, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Dialogues from the Field: Teaching Environmental Justice in African Contexts.” (June 28, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Seeing Through Local Eyes: Narratives of Resource Governance in Northern Malawi.” (June 26, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Development as if People Matter: Participatory Approaches in Practice.” (June 24, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Language and Power in Environmental Communication.” (June 22, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Restorying the Land: Memory, Meaning, and Place in Rural Africa.” (June 20, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Critical Geographies of Water Insecurity in Malawi.” (June 18, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “The Poetry of Place: Environmental Reflections from the Field.” (June 16, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Environmental Justice and the Politics of Scale in Malawi.” (June 14, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “The Everyday Politics of Water Access in Rural Malawi.” (June 12, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Gendered Geographies of Environmental Change.” (June 10, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Environmental Justice as Method: Toward a Pedagogy of Engagement.” (June 8, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Listening to Malawi: Stories of Change, Challenge, and Courage.” (June 6, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Water, Work, and Womanhood: Reflections from the Field.” (June 4, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Development, Identity, and Environmental Struggles in Northern Malawi.” (June 2, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Reflections on Research, Responsibility, and Reciprocity.” (May 31, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Seeing Like a Village: Notes on Rural Development Practice.” (May 29, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Participatory Mapping and Environmental Justice.” (May 27, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “On Being a Scholar of Africa: Reflections on Place, Power, and Positionality.” (May 25, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Community, Care, and the Craft of Fieldwork.” (May 23, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Toward a People-Centered Geography of Development.” (May 21, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “When Theory Meets Practice: Learning from Malawi.” (May 19, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Telling Stories that Matter: Ethnography and Environmental Change.” (May 17, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Africa Knows Best: Grounding Development in Local Knowledge.” (May 15, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Everyday Geographies of Environmental Justice.” (May 13, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Researching Africa with Africans: Ethics, Engagement, and Equity.” (May 11, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “The Village as Classroom: Learning from Rural Malawi.” (May 9, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Why Geography Matters: Field Notes from Malawi.” (May 7, 2019).
Kusi-Appiah, A. (2019). “Notes from the Field: Understanding Environmental Injustice.” (May 5, 2019).
Contract Instructor and Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Geography & Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa.
Courses: GEOG3700 (Population & diversity); GEOG3021 (Culture, place & time); GEOG3206 (Health, Environment & Society); GEOG2200 (Global connections); GEOG1020 (People, Culture & Places); GEOG3209 (Sustainability & Environment in the South); GEOG1020 (People, places & environments); GEOG3404 (Geography of economic development); ANTH4610/5210 (Decolonizing the Anthropocene).
Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholar (QES) and Visiting Professor, Department of Water & Sanitation, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.
Courses: EIA-WRMD 4806 (Environmental Impact Assessment) and WSM-WRMD 3602 (Water Supply Management) – with Dr. B. Chunga.
Professor, School of Public Safety, Algonquin College, Winter 2011.
Courses: PFP2071 (Issues in Diversity/First Nations); and PFP 1051 (Political Science and Public Administration).
Ph.D., Human Geography, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Concentrations: Social geographies of water access and the political ecology of health and wellbeing.
Dissertation title:
Political ecology of domestic water access and use in urban Malawi
.
Advisor: Dr. Paul Mkandawire.
M.A., Human Geography, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Master’s research dissertation:
Population Distribution and Agricultural Productivity in Northern Ghana
.
Advisor: Dr. Fiona Mackenzie.
M.A., Demography, Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Master’s research dissertation:
Determinants of Population Change and Economic Development in Ghana
.
Advisor: Dr. Tawiah.
International Summer School, Oslo University, Oslo, Norway.
Focus: Energy and the Environment.
B.A. (Hons.), Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Concentrations: Geography and Sociology.
Bachelor’s research dissertation:
Socio-economic contributions of Ghana’s Oil Palm industry on village development: the case of Kwae Oil Palm Plantation, Kwae, Eastern Region of Ghana
.
Advisor: Dr. J.S. Nabila.
DGES Departmental Staff Meeting - Graduate Student Representative.
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Theses Supervision:
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Department of Water and Sanitation, Mzuzu University, Malawi.
Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Advanced Scholars (QES) Program – Scholar.
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
https://carleton.ca/qes/people/andy-kusi-appiah/
Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Advanced Scholars (QES) Program – Volunteer.
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Hiring Committee Member, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies – Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC) – Student Representative.
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Water & Sanitation Social Engagement/Events Committee Member,
Department of Water and Sanitation, Mzuzu University, Malawi.
Undergraduate Dissertation Defense – Reviewer.
Department of Water and Sanitation, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.
Undergraduate Dissertation Defense – Reviewer.
Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi.
Teaching Assistants Mentorship Program – Volunteer.
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Board of Directors (Public Member) Ontario College of Social Work and Social Workers (OCSWSW).
Certified community Coach (Established youth teams from the ground up by developing & executing year-round programs.)
-Nepean Hotspurs (1993-1997, and 2002-2004).
-Ottawa Internationals (1997-2001).
-Association Soccer Gatineau (2008-2010).
Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor on Diversity Issues, City of Ottawa. Corporation of the Municipality of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Local coordinator for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities International Urban Program (City of Ottawa/KEEA District, Ghana Program).
Ghana Association of Ottawa, President
The Canadian Red Cross Society
- Member, Community Initiatives Committee.
- Member, International Awareness Committee.
- Facilitator, Global Education Program.
Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa
- Led work in the establishment of a youth anti-racism education program for high-risk youth (mainly Somali youth) in the DuMaurier neighbourhood of Ottawa.
Advisory Committee on Visible Minorities (Old city of Ottawa), Member.
“Building competencies for mainstreaming gender, endemic diseases and HIV/AIDS in LGAs.” Workshop organized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the National Association of Local Authorities in Ghana, Accra, Ghana, October 31–November 4, 2005.
“Building competencies for mainstreaming gender, endemic diseases and HIV/AIDS in LGAs.” Workshop organized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the National Association of Local Authorities in Ghana, Accra, Ghana, October 31–November 4, 2005.
“Conversations on the relevance of developing an action plan engaging cities in a holistic approach to combat racism as proposed by the UNESCO coalition of cities against racism.” Roundtable on Combating Urban Racism, Ottawa City Hall, Champlain Room, January 24, 2005.
“Global Change and Health: Capturing the Complex Relationships through Disease Ecology.” International Forum on Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health, IDRC, Montreal, Canada, May 18–23, 2003.
“Right to health as a viable concept for International Health Policy-making and advocacy: A Debrief to employees at SPD/PPD, PPHB, Health Canada.” Ottawa (from the 10th Canadian Conference on International Health, October 2003, Ottawa, Ontario), December 8, 2003.
Ilhan Hussein - ILHANHUSSEIN@cmail.carleton.ca
Jenny Wilbraham - JennyWilbraham@cmail.carleton.ca
John Evans – JOHNEVANS3@cmail.carleton.ca
Kevin Leahy - KEVINLEAHY@cmail.carleton.ca
Meaghan Howes - MEGHANHOWES@cmail.carleton.ca
Stefan Mihai - STEFANMIHAI@cmail.carleton.ca
Will Papadopoulos - WILLPAPADOPOULOS@cmail.carleton.ca
Peter Zaveda - PETERZAVEDA@cmail.carleton.ca
Gavin Brock - GavinBrock@cmail.carleton.ca
Clelia Nsabiyamva - CleliaNsabiyumva@cmail.carleton.ca
Samad Atta – SAMATTA@cmail.carelon.ca
Akosua Peprah – AkosuaPeprah@cunet.carleton.ca
Connor Ruprecht – ConnorRuprecht@cunet.carleton.ca
Rodney Oghinan - RodneyOghinan@cmail.carleton.ca
Elijah Yalwana Simwaka – Elijahyalwanasimwaka@gmail.com
Kris Lapp - KrisLapp@cmail.carleton.ca
Imose Alexander – ImoseAlexander@cmail.carleton.ca
Ashley Prince - AshleyPrince3@cmail.carleton.ca
QUSAI ABUSAA - QUSAIABUSAA@cmail.carleton.ca
Victor Kekemeh - Kekemeh@yahoo.com
Mahsa Shabakhti - Mahsa Shabakhti@cmail.carleton.ca
Carys Washer - CarysWasher@cmail.carleton.ca
Yalda Sarwar - YaldaSarwar@cmail.carleton.ca
Alinafe Kinyambo - kinyamboalinafe@gmail.com
Kelvin Chisaka – Kelvinchisaka95@gmail.com
Kawthar Najem - KAWTHARNAJEM@cmail.carleton.ca
Khadija Asameen - KHADIJASAMEEN@cmail.carleton.ca
Samuel Galazka - SAMUELGALAZKA@cmail.carleton.ca
Ella Stables - ELLASTABLES@cmail.carleton.ca
Fearghas MacFadeen - FearghasMcFadden@cmail.carleton.ca
Olivia Best – OliviaBest@cmail.carleton.ca
Madison Faro - MADISONFLARO@cmail.carleton.ca
Emma Brown - emmambrown@cmail.carleton.ca
Nasirudeen - NikolinaNasirudinHos@cmail.carleton.ca
Eruvwuoghene Ohwodiasa - EruvwuogheneOhwodiasa@cmail.carleton.ca
Libby Ketchum - LIBBYKETCHUM@cmail.carleton.ca
Jeremy Bider - jeremybider@cmail.carleton.ca
Aisha Ahmed - AISHAAHMED3@cmail.carleton.ca
Munita Ntim Frimpong - MunitaNtimFrimpong@cmail.carleton.ca
Khalid Kayyem - KhalidKayyem@cmail.carleton.ca
Tumelo Mpofu Mketwa - TumeloMpofuMketwa@cmail.carleton.ca
Oluwakoredeo Omotoso - OLUWAKOREDEOMOTOSO@cmail.carleton.ca
Bearman, M. & Ajjawi, R. (2021). Can a rubric do more than be transparent? Invitation as a new metaphor for assessment criteria. Studies in Higher Education , 46(2), 359-368.
Beatty, J., Leigh, J. & Dean, L. (2009). Philosophy Rediscovered: Exploring the Connections Between Teaching Philosophies, Educational Philosophies, and Philosophy. Journal of Management Education , 33(1): 99-114.
Gerza, R., Alejandro, E., Blythe, T. & Fite, K. (2013). Caring for students: what teachers have to say. Education , Article ID 425856, 7 pages.
Hattie, J. (2015). What Works Best in Education: The Politics of Collaborative Expertise . London, UK: Pearson.
Madriaga, M., Hanson, C., Heaton H., Kay, S., Newitt, S. & Walker, A. (2010). Confronting similar Challenges? Disabled and Non-Disabled Students’ Learning and Assessment Experiences. Studies in Higher Education , 35(6): 647-658.
Ostrom, E. (1990). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action . Cambridge University Press.
Pang, V. (2005). Multicultural Education: A Caring-Centered Reflective Approach , McGraw Hill, New York, NY, USA.
Tai, J., Mahoney, P., Ajjawi, R., Bearman, M., Dargusch, J., Dracup, M. & Harris, L. (2022). How are examinations inclusive for students with disabilities in higher education? A sociomaterial analysis. Journal of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education , 1-13.
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