Following a national search, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma has named Dr. Amber Wiley as the new director of the Institute for Quality Communities. An award-winning scholar, Wiley brings more than 15 years of experience in teaching, research and professional practice in historic preservation, architecture and community engagement.
She has dedicated her professional career to advancing the history and narrative of design and preservation in Black communities, as well as advocating for theoretically rigorous, thoughtful and inclusive expansions of preservation policy and practice.
“We are elated to welcome Dr. Amber Wiley to Gibbs College as the new director of the Institute for Quality Communities. Her groundbreaking work in historic preservation and community engagement, combined with her deep ties to Oklahoma and a nationally recognized career, makes her an exceptional addition to our team,” said Hans E. Butzer FAIA and dean of the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture. “Dr. Wiley’s leadership will continue to elevate the IQC’s mission and positively impact the communities we serve across the state and beyond.”
Wiley joins OU from the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, where she served as the Matt and Erika Nord director of the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites and as a Presidential Associate Professor of Historic Preservation. Her academic career includes teaching roles at research-intensive universities, liberal arts colleges and schools of architecture.
Wiley’s scholarship has been honored by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, the DC Preservation League, and the Vernacular Architecture Forum. Her work has been supported by the American Educational Research Association, Artstor, Dumbarton Oaks, the Mellon Foundation, the Society of Architectural Historians, and the SRI Foundation. She has served on the National Park System Advisory Board Landmarks Committee, and on the boards of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, Latrobe Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, and the Yale Black Alumni Association.
She holds a Ph.D. in American studies from George Washington University, a master’s in architectural history and a certificate in historic preservation from the University of Virginia, and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Yale University. She is an Oklahoma City native with roots in Oklahoma, Washington, DC, Arkansas, and North Carolina.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Dr. Wiley will be bringing her skills and expertise to Gibbs College and the IQC,” said Dr. John Harris, Director of the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design at Gibbs College. “I truly believe that she will have a major positive impact on communities across the state and lead the IQC into its next chapter. We are also excited that her wealth of knowledge will enhance the professional and personal development of our students.”
The IQC, established in 2008, serves as the community engagement arm of Gibbs College, partnering with faculty, students and professionals on more than 100 community-based projects across Oklahoma. The institute also hosts the nationally recognized Placemaking Conference, which brings together experts, students and practitioners in urban design and community development.
“It feels really good to be home in Oklahoma, and to have the opportunity to collaborate with the powerful team of students, faculty, and staff at the Gibbs College of Architecture.” said Wiley. “I respect the work my colleagues and predecessors have done before me, and I am excited to take up the torch and carry it forward.”
The Gibbs College community congratulates Dr. Wiley on this appointment and looks forward to supporting her leadership in advancing the mission of the IQC.
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
