The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce the appointment of Terry Clinefelter as an Assistant Professor in the Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division at the University of Oklahoma, beginning in Fall 2025.
Clinefelter brings more than 15 years of leadership and teaching experience in construction education, along with a strong professional background in residential and light commercial construction. He previously served as Department Head of the Construction Technology program at Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City, where he spearheaded curriculum development, expanded industry partnerships, and championed hands-on learning initiatives for students.
At OU, Clinefelter will contribute to both teaching and research. His teaching experience spans blueprint reading, estimating, construction management, energy-efficient construction, MEP systems, and sustainable construction. His research focuses on experiential learning in construction education, with particular emphasis on the role and cost of hands-on laboratory instruction in four-year construction science programs.
“Terry grew up in his Dad’s cabinet shop and has a lifetime of first hand experience putting work in place,” said Prof. Ben Bigelow, director of the Division of Construction Science. “That first hand experience is complimented by the 16 years he spent teaching in a program that is focused on hands-on construction work.”
In addition to his academic leadership, Clinefelter has significant professional experience, including project management in residential and light commercial construction, as well as running a property management and consulting business with his wife in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He also serves as Vice President for Construct My Future, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing learning opportunities and career pathways for young people interested in technical and construction training.
Clinefelter earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Building Construction from the University of Florida.
Please join us in congratulating Prof. Clinefelter on his new appointment in the Haskell & Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science!
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
