Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 Association of American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence, known as the PROSE Awards, in the category of Social Sciences: Architecture and Urban Planning.
“This recognition came as a complete surprise, but I welcome the honor,” Wiley said. “The PROSE Awardees' work represents an unparalleled depth and breadth of subject matter expertise.”
Model Schools in the Model City
The PROSE Awards have recognized excellence in professional and scholarly publishing since 1976. The awards honor authors, editors, and publishers whose work makes significant contributions to their fields. The Association of American Publishers represents the nation’s leading book, journal, and education publishers and advocates for policies that support the creation and dissemination of professional and academic knowledge.
Published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Model Schools in the Model City examines how Black Washingtonians influenced urban planning and design policy for public education. The book contributes to scholarship in architectural history and urban studies and highlights the role of community leadership in shaping educational environments.
The book has also received national recognition as a finalist for the 2026 ASALH book prize.
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
