Gibbs College PhD student Felipe Flores recently won the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Excellence in Teaching Award. MAGS is an organization of colleges and universities that works to advance graduate studies by improving program standards, sharing information, and encouraging research.
The MAGS award recognizes outstanding student teachers and mentors and emphasizes their importance in improving graduate education. One doctoral student and one master’s student were awarded with a citation and a $750 honorarium at the 79th Annual MAGS meeting on March 29-31, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois.
Flores was honored with this award for his dedication to architecture and planning education. He strives to make this discipline more inclusive of non-Western viewpoints by creating a more diverse and inclusive educational environment for emerging architects. Ever since he joined as a doctoral student in the Fall of 2021, Flores has engaged with undergraduate students, organized events that serve our student community, and explored new learning opportunities to improve his instructional techniques.
His dedication to teaching excellence has made a positive impact on many students across Gibbs college. Student Sabrina Feist reflected on her time with Flores, “[Felipe] respected my ideas and guided me to a precedent that taught me how to capitalize on what I loved while staying true to the project and practice. He was excited and ready to show me how to use my own interests in my work.”
Another student, Benjamin Jawad, said “Successful teachers can recognize and push their students to reach their potential, even when they are unaware of it. Due to Felipe’s commitment to guiding his students to reach their full potential and providing them with valuable growth opportunities, I believe he has provided me with the best academic experience possible through the Gibbs College of Architecture.”
Below are some of the teaching and mentoring opportunities Flores has actively engaged in during his time at Gibbs:
Congratulations to Felipe Flores for receiving this well-deserved award!
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.
