Gibbs College PhD student Felipe Flores was recently honored with the University of Oklahoma Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in the “Humanities and Fine Arts” category. The Graduate Teaching Assistant Award recognizes and rewards outstanding performance by graduate students in both the “Humanities and Fine Arts” and “Science and Engineering” categories.
Flores is a second year Ph.D. student in the Planning, Design and Construction program, and is advised by Dr. Angela Person. Since his arrival at OU in Fall 2021, he has taught three classes in Gibbs College: Design Studio 1, Resilient Futures, and Telesis: The Architecture Student Journal.
In addition to his responsibilities as an educator, Felipe has participated in the Stacked Mentorship Program, the National Conference for Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education, and a fellowship at OU’s Center for Peace and Development. These efforts were recognized by the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) in 2022 when he was awarded the King Medal.
Flores has also participated in the Muscogee (Creek) Tribal Town Futurity Exhibition, the Resilient Futures Symposium, and the Youth Perspectives on Climate Change symposium. In addition, he competed in the NOMA Student Design Competition and the Tiny House International Design Competition, with the cooperation of students inside and outside the OU community.
This spring, Flores received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS), which recognizes outstanding student teachers and emphasizes their importance in improving graduate education. Flores was honored with this award for his dedication to making architecture and planning education more inclusive of non-Western viewpoints.
As a graduate teaching assistant, Flores views these efforts as the synthesis of his main goal as an educator: to use design as a tool that celebrates diversity; and, in doing so, create a more inclusive, equitable and caring society. According to Flores, many of his teaching philosophies are inspired by an indigenous method of collaboration called “mingas.” Through this method, community members bring together their time, effort, and funds to achieve a shared goal for the betterment of the community.
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.
