Lee Fithian, Ph.D., AIA, an associate professor of architecture at Gibbs College, has been appointed to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Building Performance Committee.
The National Building Performance Committee (NBPC) is part of the AIA’s Knowledge Community, which focuses on improving occupant comfort and health, along with the function, durability, sustainability, and resilience of buildings. Fithian, the first member of the advisory group to represent higher education, will also work to foster collaboration between the NBPC and the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) to align shared goals and outcomes.
“This appointment comes at a unique juncture as the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) rolls out its new Competency Standard for Architects,” Fithian said. “I look forward to serving as a liaison and share the knowledge I have gained in practice, research, and teaching to advance both the profession and our college.”
“Lee’s appointment to this AIA Knowledge Community was inevitable, given her steady national ascendance as an acclaimed expert in sustainability, resilience, and collaboration. Few professionals possess her practical and educational experience and intellectual acumen”, stated Hans E. Butzer FAIA and dean of the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture. “Her expertise that has helped make our architecture program a recognized leader in sustainability and resilience will assuredly further elevate the impact of the NBPC’s work.”
In addition to her teaching and research, Fithian serves as the director of the University of Oklahoma’s Online Master of Science in Sustainable Architecture program, where she helps prepare students to address contemporary challenges in sustainability and resilience.
During the Spring 2026 semester, students in Interior Design Studio IV and Graduate Studio IV gained hands-on experience in educational facility design through a semester-long partnership with MA+ Architecture.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Dr. Tammy McCuen, Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science, on beginning her term as president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), an international organization dedicated to advancing construction education through teaching, research and service.
Following years of contributions to the College’s research and strategic initiatives, Gibbs College shares that Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement Angela M. Person, PhD, will step down from her position at Gibbs College as she moves to Tucson with her family, effective June 30, 2026.
