Dr. Bryce Lowery, associate professor of Regional + City Planning, recently published an article titled, “Food Waste, Preference, and Cost: Perceived Barriers and Self-Reported Food Service Best Practices in Family Child Care Homes” in the journal Childhood Obesity. This publication is part of Dr. Lowery’s work with a team at the University of Oklahoma Health and Sciences Center that includes Daisy Butzer, daughter of Gibbs College Dean Hans E. Butzer.
Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) are settings where providers care for children at their own residence. The facilities face unique challenges, which may result in children not receiving optimal nutrition and having a higher risk of obesity. The objective of Dr. Lowery’s study was to determine differences in food service best practices scores between FCCHs who did and did not perceive barriers to serving healthy meals.
FCCHs perceiving food waste as a barrier had significantly lower scores for total food and beverage, fruits and vegetables, whole fruits, and nonstarchy vegetables. Providers perceiving food preferences as a barrier had significantly lower scores compared to those who did not. No significant differences were found in best practices among providers with or without perceived barrier of food costs.
This study’s results emphasized that food waste is an understudied barrier in FCCHs to serve healthy meals. Research is needed to explore these perceived barriers in FCCHs to improve best practices around meals.
Read the full article.
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.
