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More than 100 design educators from over 50 institutions around the United States and beyond gathered on the University of Oklahoma campus from March 5 – 7, 2020, to explore the future of design teaching during the “Schools of Thought” conference hosted by the Gibbs College of Architecture. Among the institutions represented were Harvard, University of Michigan, Pratt, The New School, Penn, Boston Architectural College, Auburn University, Arizona State University, and dozens more.
The conference, which opened with a land acknowledgement, offered by fifth year architecture student Alecia Buffington, as well as a song, offered by Mr. Indian OU, Asher Stephens, included a particular emphasis on decolonizing architectural education.
Over two days, attendees participated in an interactive workshop on diversity and inclusivity in the classroom and studio environment, toured the Renegades: Bruce Goff and the American School of Architecture exhibition, and had the opportunity to take in more than 60 presentations engaging questions about the future of design education, which addressed questions of community participation, design-build, social equity, and more.
In addition, keynote lectures were offered by Dr. Sharon Sutton, Visiting Professor of Architecture at The New School, Parsons School of Design, who lectured on “A Pedagogy for Working Collaboratively,” and Joan Ockman, Senior Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, who lectured “Thinking About Schools: American Experiences and Experiments.” Their lectures were supported by the Bruce Goff Chair of Creative Architecture.
The conference closed with a panel discussion, moderated by Gibbs College Dean Hans E. Butzer, with panelists Christian Dagg, head of the Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture; Elysse Newman, Director of the Clemson University’s Institute for Intelligent Materials, Systems and Environments; Carmina Sanchez-del-Valle, Professor of Architecture at Hampton University; Justin Ferguson, director of design at Meticulous Design + Architecture; and Sharon Sutton, FAIA, visiting professor at Parsons School of Design.
“Schools of Thought,” co-organized by Architecture faculty Angela Person and Anthony Cricchio, was made possible with support from dozens of faculty, staff and students at the University of Oklahoma, as well as financial support from Ben Graves, the Gunning Family, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture and Bruce Goff Chair of Creative Architecture at University of Oklahoma, and the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan.
To view video highlights from the conference, scroll on.
Above: Conference video playlist.
Featured image: The Equity in Architectural Education Consortium Panelists, from left: Joana Dos Santos, Carmina Sanchez, Stephanie Pilat and Maryanne Akers.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture announces John Harris as Associate Dean for Research ad interim, effective Aug. 25, 2026, until the permanent position is filled.
Gibbs College is pleased to announce the 2026 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards recipients. These individuals were recognized by Dean Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting and will be honored during the Celebration Banquet in October. They were nominated by their colleagues via an open nomination process.
Telesis, the Gibbs College of Architecture’s student journal, has been awarded a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts to support its next two issues, “Pause” (Volume IX) and “React” (Volume X).
