Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to share that Dr. Angela Person, Associate Professor of Architecture and Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement, has been named President’s Associates Second Century Presidential Professor.
Presidential Professorships at the University of Oklahoma recognize outstanding faculty who excel in all areas of their professional activities and who extend those efforts into the teaching and mentorship of students. A nationally recognized interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Person’s research explores the intersections of architecture, cultural geography, and environmental sustainability. Her work often bridges disciplines, drawing from social sciences, the humanities, and design practices to illuminate how design shapes everyday life and reflects cultural values.
One highlight of Dr. Person’s recent work is her role as curator of the critically acclaimed Capital Brutalism exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. This exhibition, co-curated with photographer Ty Cole, examines the city’s controversial Brutalist architectural legacy. It has been covered by major media outlets including NPR’s Morning Edition, CBS Saturday Morning, Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, Dezeen, Architectural Record, and others. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “Capital Brutalism does what an exhibition of recent architecture should do, which is to take something that has become familiar, commonplace and discolored by decades of auto exhaust and help us to see it with fresh eyes.”
Student mentorship has been a cornerstone of Dr. Person’s impact at OU. She has mentored undergraduate and graduate students whose work has gone on to win national awards, including multiple national Douglas Haskell Awards for Student Journals for Telesis, the student-led journal which she advises, currently led by doctoral student Felipe Flores. Under her guidance, students have also earned prestigious research fellowships and accolades such as the Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Research Grand Prize. One student noted, “Dr. Angela Person’s encouragement and mentorship have helped me have the courage and positive attitude needed to take the risks that have been foundational to my life and career trajectory.”
Beyond individual mentorship, Dr. Person has fostered collaborative opportunities for students through initiatives such as the award-winning Environmental Sustainability Working Group, co-organized with Dr. Randy Peppler, and special topics coursework including Resilient Futures: Design for a Changing World, co-taught with Dr. Stephanie Pilat. She consistently facilitates student-designed research opportunities, ensuring students not only learn but actively lead. Another mentee shared, “She encourages us to share our talents and work together as students of different backgrounds, involvements, and majors.”
Please join Gibbs College in congratulating Dr. Person on her recognition as President’s Associates Second Century Presidential Professor.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
