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 been named to the shortlist for the Museum of African American History (MAAH) Stone Book Award for her book, Model Schools in the Model City. The book was one of 14 titles selected from 158 eligible submissions for the 2026 award.
The Stone Book Award recognizes exceptional works that demonstrate strong scholarship and accessibility while encouraging dialogue within and across social and racial groups. The selected books reflect the Museum’s belief that understanding African American history is essential to understanding the broader American experience.
In Model Schools in the Model City, Wiley examines how Black Washingtonians influenced urban planning and design policy for public education. The book contributes to scholarship in architectural history and urban studies while highlighting the role of community leadership in shaping educational environments. Its selection for the Stone Book Award places the publication among a distinguished group of works recognized for their contributions to scholarship and public understanding.
The 2026 MAAH Stone Book Award event will take place on October 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum’s historic African Meeting House on Beacon Hill. Three finalists for the award will be announced in early September.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition 200 Digital Drawings by Professor Tiziana Proietti, currently on display in the Gould Hall Living Room.
Gibbs College of Architecture Professors Amber Brown and Amy Leveno led 29 students to Dallas, Texas, in September for a learning experience as part of their Design 7 Studio course.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture professor and Institute for Quality Communities Director Dr. Amber N. Wiley’s book, Model Schools in the Model City: Race, Planning, and Education in the Nation’s Capital, has received two major honors from the Urban History Association.
