RCPL faculty member Dr. C. Aujean Lee recently gave a presentation titled “Moving from aspiration to action: Reorienting planners’ values towards equity diversity and inclusion” for the American Planning Association (APA) Urban Design and Preservation Division. The APA Urban Design and Preservation Division is a nationwide community of professionals dedicated to supporting educational and networking opportunities for planners, urban designers, preservationists, and allied professionals.
The presentation was part of a continuing education webcast on diversity, equity, and inclusion and included findings from a national survey with more than 3,000 responses on the climate for diversity in planning workplaces. The findings were also published in a report co-authored by Dr. Lee with the same title.
Key findings of Dr. Lee’s work, “showed that although there has been progress incorporating diversity and inclusion values and practices within some organizations and agencies, there are two areas that employers, workplaces, and planning educational institutions still need to address 1) lack of representation, and 2) experiences of bias, harassment, and discrimination based on identity.”
The report recommends, “Moving forward, it is clear that more strident, inclusive, and explicit anti-racist thinking is needed, which requires continual re-commitment to and re-examination of these values.”
Dr. Lee’s work and presentation is an important step in not only calling attention to the biases and lack of representation in the planning field but also presenting steps to fixing these problems.
Read the full report below!
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.
