ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN
Architecture
Ariel Solis, MArch ‘08
Assistant Professor, Chair, School of Architecture & Interior Design
N E W FAC U LT Y
Lionel Johnson
Tamara Karr
8 / The Pulse 2021
Zayda Steinke
I would like to reflect on some of the ways the School of Architecture & Interior Design was blessed during the 2020-2021 academic year. Even though COVID was on the rise, we were able to conduct face-to-face classes after a sudden shift to remote learning during the spring of 2020. All the restrictions made it challenging, but at the end of the year, we were happy to see outstanding projects from our students. Also, we were blessed to see the fourth and fifth-year classes graduate in May. I’m also thankful for God’s protection in that, even though we had some COVID cases, our school did not have any significant spread of the virus thanks to all the students, faculty, and staff who followed the COVID guidelines and kept a positive attitude. During the spring semester, some of our minority students worked on applying to the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) in hopes of establishing a chapter of National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) in our school soon. We know this will help students find new opportunities as they advance in their academic journeys. Also, another opportunity we are happy to announce is the new Associate in Architecture degree, a two-year degree that will help students gain knowledge to start working in entry-level jobs in architecture, with construction companies, and even in real estate. At the same time, our school went through some changes. Three members of our faculty left us to start another chapter of their lives. We are grateful for the contributions they made to our school, and they will be deeply missed, but we wish them the best as they continue to make an impact wherever they go. With these changes, a new generation of faculty will be joining our school. We are looking forward to seeing the new members share their knowledge with our students, and we are happy they are now part of our school family. Please welcome Lionel Johnson, MArch, associate professor of practice; Zayda Steinke, MArch, assistant professor; and Tamara Karr, MLIS, the new director of the Architecture Resource Center. We are pleased to announce, too, that Professor Rhonda Root is now the academic advisor, Christopher Perry will be the undergraduate program director, and I will be the graduate program director. These are added responsibilities, but we seek to do the very best for our students. Now, as the fall semester of 2021 begins and things have started going back to normal in our school, we all know that things will never be the same. We have been reminded of the importance of interacting with other people, especially in the studio environment where interaction with classmates is important for students’ development. This year will be a year of opportunities for our school as we plan to resume class field trips, summer travels, and get back to participating in mission trips. One of the most exciting opportunities will come in the spring of 2022, when we will be hosting the 3rd International Biennial of Adventist Academic Architecture (BIAAA). The theme for the event is Build – Serve – Be Well. We invite our alumni, students, and professionals to participate and learn about the work from the different architecture institutions and to see projects by leading professionals. We are committed to developing our students as professionals who will be leaders and use their gifts to serve others through architecture and interior design. I would like to leave you with a quote from C.S. Lewis: “The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because He made us. He invented us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be ... It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own.” I encourage each of our students and faculty to find a balance in their personal, academic, and spiritual life; to find ways to connect with God each day; and to let Him shape a path for their life. It is only in this surrender to Him that we can reach our full potential.
