2022 CAUS Awards
Each year in April, the college celebrates the achievements of its faculty, staff and students with awards. Awardees are nominated by their peers and voted upon by the college’s Honorifics Committee and allied units in the university. They include the CAUS award recipients as well as ones who received recognition at the university level.
Congratulations to all!
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Teaching
Keresh Afsari
Construction Engineering and Management
Myers-Lawson School of Construction
Keresh’s nominators had this to say:
- Keresh has provided outstanding contributions in teaching with her use of emerging technologies and pedagogical strategies to help students retain information.
- She has created the Construction Robotics initiative that engages students in learning about robotic technologies and their use within design and construction.
- She serves on the Construction Engineering and Management curriculum committee and has contributed to overall curriculum development within the major.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Teaching
Elif Tural
Interior Design
School of Architecture + Design
Elif’s nominators had this to say:
- Elif creates a classroom environment where her students feel comfortable approaching her and feel validated and understood.
- She revised her ITDS 3176 course to better reflect the human health and wellbeing focus of the profession, practical lighting design integration with projects utilizing lighting simulation and calculation software, and fostered industry relations with student field trips and invited speakers.
- Elif introduced new rendering/VR software in her Interior Design 3044 and 3054 courses along with revisions to improve relations with studio project sponsors.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Outreach: Team Award
Elizabeth Gilboy
Community Design Assistance Center
School of Architecture + Design
Elizabeth’s nominators had this to say:
- Elizabeth, as the director of the CDAC team, worked on several projects in the coal-impacted community in Dante, VA for whom they designed a master plan for the downtown area.
- The CDAC team also designed a redevelopment concept for the Dante Depot along with a redevelopment plan for the Arty Lee School.
- Elizabeth and her team created residential housing design guidelines and conceptual prototypes for residential infill.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Outreach: Team Award
Nick Proctor
Community Design Assistance Center
School of Architecture + Design
Nick’s nominators had this to say:
- Nick, as the project manager of the CDAC team, oversaw several projects in the coal-impacted city of Dante, VA.
- The CDAC team designed a redevelopment concept for the Dante Depot along with a redevelopment plan for the Arty Lee School.
- The CDAC team’s work in Dante provides students with engagement in real projects that require cross-disciplinary collaboration.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Outreach: Team Award
Lisa Tucker
Interior Design
School of Architecture + Design
Lisa’s nominators had this to say:
- Lisa, as a faculty member of the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) team, worked on several projects for the community of Dante, VA including a downtown master plan.
- The CDAC team’s long-term commitment to Dante’s success fostered a trusting relationship among the Dante community which renewed a feeling of pride, accomplishment, sense of community, and hope.
- Their work helped the Dante community secure over $900,000 in funding for projects and development.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Outreach: Team Award
Kevin Jones
Architecture
School of Architecture + Design
Kevin’s nominators had this to say:
- Kevin, as a faculty member of the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) team, worked on several projects for the community of Dante, VA, including a redevelopment concept for the former steam building.
- The team generated a redevelopment concept for the Arty Lee Campground and Recreation Area and the County Fair Ground Center Facility.
- Their work helped the Dante community secure over $900,000 in funding for projects and development.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Outreach
Mel Jones
Virginia Center for Housing Research
Myers-Lawson School of Construction
Mel’s nominators had this to say:
- Mel transformed what was originally an administrative support position at VCHR into a leadership position that uses affordable housing data analysis to achieve change in all types of communities.
- She enables communities to conduct their own housing analysis so that they own their data and use it for ongoing insight and decision making.
- Mel created resources for a variety of uses ranging from data analysis guides, available through the American Planning Association, to educational programs at different levels using housing data to improve communities.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Scholarship
Abiola Akanmu
Construction Engineering and Management
Myers-Lawson School of Construction
Abiola’s nominators had this to say:
- Abiola has demonstrated exemplary research and creative scholarship becoming an international expert in technology-driven, smart construction topics.
- Her scholarship has made a significant contribution to smart construction to reduce musculoskeletal injuries and increase worker longevity in the field.
- Her extensive research contributes to engineering education through training the future workforce with emerging technologies.
CAUS Certificate for Excellence in Scholarship
Shalini Misra
Urban Affairs and Planning
School of Public and International Affairs
Shalini’s nominators had this to say:
- Shalini’s research on the digital information landscape trail infrastructure and management that encompasses socio-cognitive and cyber infrastructure, and the study of convergence research offer novel lines of inquiry on the human-technology interface.
- Her scholarship about the impact of digital technologies on cognitive processes, behavior, and well-being is sophisticated and innovative.
- She is recognized internationally as an expert in the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of transdisciplinary team science.
CAUS Certificate for Creative Achievement
Enric Ruiz-Geli
Architecture
School of Architecture + Design
Enric’s nominators had this to say:
- Enric is recognized for his work related to digital fabrication through his work for the Creativity and Innovation District (CID) Design-Build project and the Caixa Forum Valencia creative-practice research project.
- His design for the CaixaForum in Valencia brings concrete form and expression to climate and natural landscapes in a manner that will fulfill the site’s educational function and uses the most advanced construction techniques.
- Enric has led the development of an innovative design-build administrative system that involves the integration of student and faculty design teams into real-world projects, such as the Creativity and Innovation District residence hall.
CAUS Certificate for Creative Achievement
Zach Duer
Creative Technologies
School of Visual Arts
Zach’s nominators had this to say:
- Zach’s research and creative work interrogates the intersection of contemporary visual media technologies with music, collage, and the human body.
- His creative practice contains numerous artworks that engage and advance genuine interdisciplinary research practice connecting between extended reality, performance, installation, and film.
- Zach’s global impact arises from establishing a conversation in the area of dance, photography and film.
CAUS Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Meredith Drum
Creative Technologies
School of Visual Arts
Meredith’s nominators had this to say:
- Meredith’s research-based art practice integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion into her creative activities, such as her current project “Monument Public Address System.”
- She developed a site-specific AR app that superimposes audio and visual narratives of justice and liberation onto confederate monuments.
- Meredith recently collaborated with SOVA and IT staff to create a free “render farm” for SOVA’s 3D animation students to address the financial constraints of students.
CAUS Outstanding Administrative & Professional Faculty/Staff Award
Roslyn Garrison
College of Architecture and Urban Studies
Roslyn’s nominators had this to say:
- Roslyn’s judicious support for faculty and staff searches indicates a deep and perceptive awareness of the process.
- She is an excellent sounding board for many faculty and staff and provides much needed humanitarian contributions for the college and university – she is genuinely a “people person.”
- Roslyn is effective in the mentoring of new leaders in matters related to human resources.
CAUS Outstanding Administrative & Professional Faculty/Staff Award
Kelly Crist
School of Public and International Affairs
Kelly’s nominators had this to say:
- When Kelly was promoted to the position of Manager of Faculty and Student Affairs, she successfully took on many of the responsibilities including the role of Graduate Student Coordinator.
- She is a consummate professional who is efficient, detail-oriented, proactive and goes above and beyond what is asked of her.
- Over the last two difficult years of the pandemic, Kelly has enhanced the working environment of faculty and staff members.
Elizabeth Roberson Staff Excellence Award
Vern Ferguson
School of Architecture + Design
Vern’s nominators had this to say:
- Vern, as an academic advisor, is committed to providing a scaffolding for the success of upper-year undergraduate architecture students.
- He advocates for each student as an individual in an authentic way by providing perspective with grace and understanding.
- Vern initiated collecting all LinkedIn pages of our alumni over the previous five years leading to a significant network of alumni to connect with for internship and mentorship purposes.
CAUS Lifetime Contribution Award
Thom Mills
Building Construction
Myers-Lawson School of Construction
Thom's nominators had this to say:
- Thom’s influence extends beyond Virginia Tech, making a difference in the many graduate students who have become industry leaders and developed new solutions to shape our world.
- Through thick and thin, his achievements as a mentor, researcher, and educator have shaped our programs into what they are today.
- Thom’s loyalty and devotion to these programs is unparalleled.
CAUS Ut Prosim Award
Yang Zhang
Urban Affairs and Planning
School of Public and International Affairs
Yang's nominators had this to say:
- Yang has made significant contributions to college research despite his short amount of time as CAUS Associate Dean for Research.
- He assembled data on the college’s research contributions that highlighted the range of scholarly and creative works to better inform the university of under-appreciated achievements.
- Yang revived research grants for students with faculty mentors that highlights innovative research interests across all the schools of the college.
University Awards
The college’s Honorifics Committee, in collaboration with the university’s Academy of Teaching Excellence, Center for Outreach and International Affairs, Alumni Association, Student Affairs and the Graduate School celebrate these awardees, who received their respective certificates in separate ceremonies. Congratulations to all!
College Award for Teaching Excellence
Scott Gartner
Architecture
School of Architecture + Design
In collaboration with the Academy of Teaching Excellence
Scott’s nominators had this to say:
- Scott teaches with kindness and displays a genuine concern for each of his students and their progress not only within architecture, but also in life.
- He exudes a sheer enthusiasm for the world of ideas brought to life for his students, like questions of meaning and embodiment in architecture.
- Scott’s teaching is accessible and approachable, with his content being meticulously prepared and delivered with passion.
College Award for Outreach Excellence
Nathan King
Architecture
School of Architecture + Design
In collaboration with Outreach & International Affairs
Nathan’s nominators had this to say:
- Nathan’s efforts toward establishing and maintaining international relationships and programs have provided opportunities for students and faculty.
- He led the college’s engagement in the development of the African Design Centre in Kigali, Rwanda which developed curriculum offered to graduates of architecture programs across Africa.
- Nathan led a summer vocational training program in which students from Rwandan secondary schools collaborated with Industrial Design and Architecture students to develop new furniture proposals.
College Award for Outreach Excellence
Abiola Akanmu
Construction Engineering and Management
Myers-Lawson School of Construction
In collaboration with Outreach & International Affairs
Abiola’s nominators had this to say:
- Abiola partners with local communities, one being K-12 students in local educational institutes, to encourage students into the engineering profession.
- She trained students in the Calhoun Discovery Program to lead workshops, such as the Industry 4.0 Summer outreach workshop, to high school students in underserved districts.
- Abiola participated in the 2019 Mission Tomorrow event, where she demonstrated the potential use of of cameras, computer vision, and mixed augmented/virtual reality in the construction industry to local eighth graders.
Outstanding Recent Alumni Award
Nick Coates
Architecture
School of Architecture + Design
In collaboration with Alumni Relations
Nick’s nominators had this to say:
- Nick conducted a study and traveled to 11 different countries, creating the book The Corner: a marker of the new, a memory of the past, that helped him receive the prestigious SOM Prize in Architecture, Design, and Urban Design.
- He continues to impress others with his insatiable curiosity, even after exhaustive travel studies.
- Nick has contributed to numerous educational programs, including four summers in Virginia Tech’s Inside Architecture + Design program, two summers at Columbia University’s Summer High School Program, and at the Iceland University of the Arts.
Outstanding Senior
Kensley Bullins
Graphic Design
School of Visual Arts
In collaboration with Student Affairs
Kensley’s nominators had this to say:
- Kensley serves as President of SOVA’s Student Mentors and Ambassadors where she participates in recruiting events.
- She serves as the Resources Coordinator for the AIGA Graphic Design Club and leads monthly lectures on topics that include networking, building resumes, preparing for interviews, and presenting work online.
- Kensley is the 9th ranked student in Virginia Tech’s senior class with a 4.0 GPA, and has received the Davis, Derek Myers, and School of Visual Arts Scholarships.
Outstanding Master's Student
Alexandra Palin
Material Culture & Public Humanities
School of Visual Arts
In collaboration with the Graduate School
Alexandra’s nominators had this to say:
- Alexandra’s collaborative and interdisciplinary work in material culture has raised the public-facing profile of the arts in SOVA, CAUS, and VT.
- She performed outstanding work as Curator of the 2021 Fall exhibition on contemporary photographer Larry Fink, titled Gathering: Pearls and Polyester.
- Faculty across campus, as well as field specialists from regional cultural institutions, praise her intellectual curiosity and ability to navigate complex theoretical concepts.
Outstanding Doctoral Student
Omobolanle Ogunseiju
Building Construction
Myers-Lawson School of Construction
In collaboration with the Graduate School
Omobolanle’s nominators had this to say:
- Omobolanle is an exemplary doctoral student doing cutting edge interdisciplinary work in smart construction that involves the application of artificial intelligence and wearable robots to advance workforce development.
- Her contributions will advance the ability of the industry to gainfully apply sensors specifically toward increasing human health and safety during the construction process.
- Omobolanle makes tremendous contributions to the School of Construction, her graduate student peers, undergraduate students, and faculty.
Outstanding Mentor
Frank Weiner
Architecture
School of Architecture + Design
In collaboration with the Graduate School
Frank’s nominators had this to say:
- Frank’s ability to assist and guide students in the gathering, synthesizing, and weaving together of ideas makes him a gifted educator and graduate thesis advisor.
- He treats every student with profound respect; giving each his focused and full attention, always actively seeking to find common ground and to understand and build upon individual student capacities.
- "Frank gives galvanizing praise to the timid, a sense of direction to those who meander, and slows the pace of those who sprint past their own ideas."