The University of Oklahoma Carceral Studies Consortium is pleased to announce the 2021 Student Work Prize recipients. The prize recognizes excellence in scholarly or creative work from any discipline that engages carceral studies, broadly construed, during the 2020-2021 academic year. Congratulations, all!
First Prize:
Victoria White (African and African American Studies), “Oklahoma! Where the Sin Comes Sweeping Down the Plains” (advised by Jermaine Thibodeaux)
First Runner Up:
Lilly Amechi (Anthropology), “Criminal Justice Reform Includes Ethnic Minorities: An Anthropological Perspective into Reforming the Criminal Justice System with the Cultural Defense Test” (advised by Paul Spicer)
Second Runner Up:
Johanna Hilmes (Architecture), “Light at the End of the Tunnel: Importance of Color and Lighting in Carceral Facilities” (advised by Marjorie Callahan)
Honorable Mention:
Justin Durham (Psychology), “Tulsa Race Massacre: Affective and Cognitive Influences on Blame and Punishment” (advised by Scott Gronlund)
Honorable Mention:
Johanna Greenwood (African and African American Studies), “Convict Labor: How the Rich Become Richer and the Poor Become Homeless” (advised by Jermaine Thibodeaux)
A team of Construction Science and Architecture students from the Gibbs College of Architecture made their mark on the national stage this week, earning third place out of 37 universities competing at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition, held during the International Builders' Show in Orlando, February 16-18, 2026.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has elevated Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP to its prestigious College of Fellows—AIA’s highest membership honor—for his exceptional work and sustained contributions to architecture and society. Fellowship recognizes architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant impact at a national level. Members elevated to this distinction carry the FAIA designation after their name.
Students from the Spring 2026 Graduate 4 Architecture Design Studio, led by Professor Amy Leveno, exhibited their work at the School of Visual Arts. The exhibition, titled Reimagining the OU School of Visual Arts, featured drawings, models, and animations developed throughout the semester's studio project. The show was hosted in The Spotlight, a creative gallery space located on the first floor of the Fred Jones Art Center, and ran from January 20–30, 2026.
