Shobha Pathmanathan, senior Environmental Design student, was recently selected as the Gibbs College of Architecture student representative for the December 2020 Convocation! This designation is traditionally a college banner carrier during commencement, but it is different this year due to the virtual format. In honor of her selection, we’re excited to share a few insights into Shobha’s life and journey at Gibbs!
Where are you from, and what drew you to OU?
I am from Yukon, Oklahoma and have known I wanted to go to OU practically my whole life! My dad is an OU grad, so from the age of 5 I decided I wanted to follow in his footsteps. The welcoming and homey feeling of the university along with the beauty of the campus really drew me to the school. I am also a very big OU football fan, which was an added incentive to want to attend this university. After my official college visit my senior year of high school, I knew that OU was home.
What do you love about your work at OU?
As an Environmental Design major, my favorite part about my work at OU is the fact that we get to work on real-life projects, working with real cities/districts and clients on projects to better their communities. We get to meet officials and professionals across many different disciplines as part of our curriculum, which allows us to make and build incredible connections before we enter the workforce.
What do you like to do for fun/hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and dog. I also really enjoy making home décor, doing calligraphy, and finding new things to channel and grow my creativity.
What is your favorite place to visit, and why?
My favorite place to visit is Sydney, Australia. I visited the city my freshman year of high school and immediately fell in love. We toured the Sydney Opera House, and that’s what really unlocked my strong interest in architecture. The combination of coastal life and city life is what truly drew me to the city, and I am looking forward to going back someday soon!
Congratulations, Shobha!
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Thinh "Henry" Duong, a master's student in the Division of Interior Design, for earning first place in the 2026 Robert Bruce Thompson Annual Student Light Fixture Design Competition.
Gibbs College of Architecture Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) Director and Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design (PLAD) faculty member Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., recently published a new book, Collective Yearning: Black Women Artists from the Zimmerli Art Museum.
In May, students from the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture's Architecture, Environmental Design, and Interior Design programs participated in an intensive five-day Studio in Residence at Taliesin West, the iconic winter home and desert laboratory of Frank Lloyd Wright.
