Celebrating Excellence: 2025 School of Architecture Faculty & Staff Awards
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In early May, the School of Architecture hosted its inaugural awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding contributions of its faculty and staff. Held in the Pavilion IX Upper Garden, where Dean Malo Hutson and his family reside, this joyful afternoon honored individuals whose passion, creativity, hard work, and lasting impact shine across teaching, research, mentorship, service, leadership, and community engagement. With heartfelt introductions and tributes drawn from their nominators’ words, the ceremony was filled with gratitude, laughter, and well-deserved applause for the people who make the School of Architecture such a vibrant and inspiring place.
This year’s honorees were recognized across nine award categories:
STAFF AWARDS
Professional Pursuits Award
LaQuinta Spellman, was honored for her remarkable commitment to professional development and lifelong learning. While excelling in her role as IT User Services Lead, responding to the innumerable technology needs of students, staff, and faculty at a moment's notice, she is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Systems and Information Engineering, inspiring colleagues with her dedication to growth and excellence. "What makes LaQuinta's contributions even more remarkable is her unwavering pursuit of academic achievement—taking courses while managing the demands of a full-time job and caring for her family," said one nominator.
Staff Mentorship Award
Director of Advising + Academic Support Tashana Starks received this award for her extraordinary advocacy for students. Known as a trusted mentor, guide, and comrade, Starks is deeply committed to student success, often going above and beyond to provide emotional support and personalized advising. One nominator wrote, “Students don’t just look to Tashana for help selecting classes, but as a fountain of sage advice, a safe space, a source of emotional support, their confidante, their mentor, their defender, and friend.”
Community Engagement Award
Software Platforms and Technology Lead Lyle Solla-Yates was celebrated for using his skills to create meaningful local impact—from helping reshape Charlottesville’s zoning code to enhancing student learning through community-focused studios and courses. “Lyle has been a vital force in bridging the boundaries between the School’s expertise and its community impact, not only channeling the knowledge and direct engagement of our faculty and staff for the public good, but also creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn from and contribute to this work firsthand," said one nominator.
Staff Service Award
Registrar Sharon McDonald, was recognized for her unwavering service and institutional leadership. As a reliable and supportive colleague, McDonald ensures that the school’s academic infrastructure runs smoothly, fostering an inclusive, student-centered environment that strengthens the entire community. One nominator said of McDonald, "She has become a trusted mentor, guide, and steady presence whose institutional memory and personal commitment make our school stronger."
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| Clockwise from top left: Lindsay Schiller presented the Professional Pursuits Award to LaQuinta Spellman; Tashana Starks shakes hands with CL Bohannon upon receipt of the Staff Mentorship Award; Sharon McDonald holds the Staff Service Award with Honorifics Committee member Lauren Cantrell; Lyle Solla-Yates receives the Community Engagement Award from Honorifics Committee member Derrick Elder. | |
FACULTY AWARDS
Faculty Mentorship Award
Associate Professor and outgoing Chair of Architectural History Sheila Crane was celebrated for her mentorship of both students and colleagues. Her inclusive leadership and academic excellence have elevated the school’s culture, offering invaluable support to early-career faculty and peers alike. “Whether serving on a committee, reviewing a grant application, or giving informal guidance, Sheila is consistently generous with her time and insight,” said one nominator.
Research and Scholarship Award
Michael Luegering, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture and Co-Director of the Natural Infrastructure Lab, was recognized for his cutting-edge research in landscape architecture, addressing climate resilience and environmental justice through nature-based infrastructure.
Associate Professor of Architecture Elgin Cleckley was honored for his impactful scholarship at the intersection of architecture, history, and public memory, advancing community-centered design and equity-driven practice.
Design Studio Teaching Excellence Award
Mona El Khafif, Associate Professor of Architecture and Urban + Environmental Planning, was celebrated for her dynamic teaching that integrates data and urban systems into design studio work, empowering students to approach projects with both creativity and authority. “Mona’s passion for the city, its background systems, and the data needed to understand how it ought to perform is notable,” wrote one of her colleagues.
Professor and Chair of Landscape Architecture Brad Cantrell was lauded for redefining the boundaries of landscape architectural pedagogy, by weaving emerging technologies into the design process. “Brad’s approach equips students with future-facing tools that challenge them to critically evaluate the social, ecological, and ethical dimensions of landscape design. His studio does not just teach students to design; it teaches them to think, question, and innovate,” said one nominator.
New Faculty Teaching Award
Lecturer and PhD candidate in the Constructed Environment Sasson Rafailov received this award for his outstanding and transformational teaching in ARCH 1020 Lessons in Making, a required foundation class for all first-year undergraduate students in the School of Architecture. “The innovative curriculum fostered a process of self-reflection and discovery among the students, encouraging them to critically reconsider their relationship with the environment and their responsibilities as future designers and planners committed to shaping a more just and sustainable world,” wrote a colleague.
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| Clockwise from top left: CL Bohannon, chair of the Honorifics Committee stands with faculty awardees Sheila Crane; and Elgin Cleckley; Sasson Rafailov, recipient of the New Faculty Teaching Award and Lauren Cantrell; Landscape Architecture faculty Brad Cantrell (left) and Michael Luegering, with Bohannon, received awards for their excellence in teaching, scholarship and research. | |
The Anselmo Canfora Award for Leadership and Collaborative Excellence (Faculty & Staff)
The Anselmo Canfora Award for Leadership and Collaborative Excellence honors those who demonstrate outstanding leadership, foster collaboration, and support students and colleagues with generosity and care. The award is named for the late Anselmo Gianluca Canfora, a beloved professor, mentor, colleague, and friend whose vision and generosity left an indelible mark on the School of Architecture.
After more than two decades of service, the school’s soon retiring Facilities Manager Dick Smith was honored for his exceptional leadership and collaborative spirit. Called the “glue and duct tape” of the school, Smith leads by example—offering expertise, care, and support to colleagues and students alike, embodying the values of service, generosity, and quiet leadership. As one nominator said of Smith, “The best leaders are often those who do not call themselves leaders, but who simply lead by default in everything they do, and just by doing it.”
Associate Dean of Academics John Comazzi was honored for his exceptional leadership. With a deep commitment to access, equity, and student success, Comazzi exemplifies the values of the award’s namesake. “Whether working behind the scenes to resolve complex challenges or standing alongside students in moments of celebration and uncertainty, John leads with integrity, humility, and care,” wrote one nominator.
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Congratulations to our 2025 faculty and staff awardees! They exemplify the excellence and dedication that will continue to shape the School of Architecture’s future for years to come.
Special Thanks to our Honorifics Committee:
CL Bohannon, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture
Lauren Cantrell, Assistant Professor of Practice, Architecture + Landscape Architecture
Derrick Elder, IT Support Technician
Shiqiao Li, Weedon Professor in Asian Architecture
Saskia Santen, Office of the Dean Executive Assistant
Lindsay Schiller, Director of Career Development
Kyle Sturgeon, Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives
