Blair Humphreys, executive director of the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities, has announced his resignation from his OU position so that he can transition to Humphreys Company, overseeing the planning and development of the Downtown Airpark for the Oklahoma City-based development company. Humphreys has been affiliated with the Institute for four years, serving in the leadership position of executive director for the past two-and-a-half years.
“Blair Humphreys will be greatly missed as director of OU’s Institute for Quality Communities,” said OU President David L. Boren. “He has done an outstanding job as the first director of the Institute. It is already having a great impact on communities, especially those in Oklahoma. We are hopeful that Blair will continue to teach a course for us and continue to give volunteer advice to the Institute,” Boren said.
“Though it saddened us to learn of Blair’s resignation, true to his character his new career opportunity just demonstrates the skill sets he has to tackle almost any challenges related to real estate development and revitalization. He leaves the director’s position with the institute in good condition so the next director will be able to continue the process of building a world-class organization,” stated Charles Graham, dean of the College of Architecture. “We will continue to engage Blair in our teaching mission as his commitments allow. We appreciate the many contributions he has made to our college, university and state, and look forward to his future contributions.”
As the first full-time director of IQC, Humphreys has been instrumental in the establishment of a strong foundation for the Institute and will continue his connection to the college by teaching and lecturing when his schedule allows. Under his guidance, IQC has evolved to become a leading source of placemaking and urban design expertise in the region. The April 2013 Placemaking Conference, for example, brought together internationally noted experts and attracted an audience of more than 1,000 civic leaders, OU students, faculty and staff.
The IQC impacts communities through a variety of academic programs and events, including overseeing the college’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design degree program as well as the Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Great Plains Community Design Studios.
“I appreciate Dean Graham and President Boren for the incredible opportunity to lead IQC these past two-and-a-half years. IQC is doing great work throughout Oklahoma, and its ability to positively impact communities will only increase in the future,” said Humphreys.
The Institute for Quality Communities was established in 2008 by OU President David L. Boren to enhance the quality communities throughout Oklahoma and around the world. The IQC is uniquely positioned alongside the College of Architecture’s Divisions of Architecture, Regional and City Planning, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Construction Science.
An international search for a new Executive Director of the Institute for Quality Communities has commenced. The IQC Executive Director is responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of IQC programs and initiatives, and collaborates with college administrators and division directors. In the search for a new executive director, the committee will be looking for candidates who possess the passion, expertise and experience necessary to successfully advance the IQC and its objective of shaping quality communities in Oklahoma.
Interested applicants can find more information online at http://jobs.ou.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=82346 or by calling the College of Architecture at (405) 325-2444.
