Gibbs College Architecture alumna Jessica Hester (Class of 2011) was recently named to the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 2021 “Forty Under 40.” This program annually honors 40 individuals under the age of 40 who have been nominated as best in class by their peers in all industries.
Hester is CEO and Principal Architect of Verdant Studio, located in Rogers, Arkansas, which she built by hiring a “team of team of 12 professionals with overlapping creative disciplines focusing on art, architecture and research.” They work on a broad selection of project types–from public art to retail, hospitality to healthcare, and more.
To read her “Forty Under 40” profile, visit the link below.
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
