Skip Navigation

PhD Student Receives ACCE National Housing Endowment Scholarship

Rafael Hernández with his scholarship certificate.

PhD Student Receives ACCE National Housing Endowment Scholarship


Date

October 13, 2025

Tags


We are pleased to announce that our Ph.D. student, Rafael Hernández, has been awarded the prestigious American Council for Construction Education’s (ACCE) National Housing Endowment Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

“My family and I are truly grateful for this scholarship, which eases the financial burden of paying for school and allows me to focus on my studies and research,” says Rafael. “I look forward to becoming actively involved with ACCE and its distinguished institutions in the future!” 

The National Housing Endowment is a philanthropic branch of the National Association of Home Builders. They support the residential construction industry by sharing educational and career opportunities with students.  

The ACCE is a global advocate for the quality of construction education, responsible for promotion, support, and accreditation of construction education programs. Working with the National Housing Endowment, the ACCE awards a scholarship to support the children of Executive Officers in the pursuit of a college degree. To date, $330,000 has supported more than 250 students in their education.  

“Rafael’s professional and military background will make him a tremendous addition to any program,” says Dr. Ben Bigelow. “I’m very excited that the National Housing Endowment has recognized him with this support!” 

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 


Recent Gibbs College News

December 02, 2025

Faculty Publish Chapter in New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality

Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.


December 01, 2025

OU Urban Planning Professor Selected as Co-Chair for National Planning Interest Group

Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, Assistant Professor of Regional and City Planning, has been selected to serve as Co-Chair of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Planners of Color Interest Group (POCIG) for the 2025–2027 term.


December 01, 2025

Regional & City Planning Graduate Earns Prestigious National APA Student Award

The Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Tahsin Tabassum, a recent graduate of the college’s Master of Regional and City Planning program and current doctoral student at the University of California, Irvine, for receiving the prestigious 2024–2025 American Planning Association (APA) Outstanding Student Award.