Celebrating Excellence: 2026 School of Architecture Faculty & Staff Awards
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In late April, the School of Architecture hosted its second annual awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding contributions of its faculty and staff. Held in the Pavilion IX Upper Garden, this event honored individuals whose passion, creativity, hard work, and lasting impact shine across teaching, research, mentorship, service, leadership, and community engagement. In his introduction, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Community Engagement CL Bohannon shared, "Establishing traditions matter, and this afternoon reflects our shared commitment to recognizing the people whose work sustains and strengthens this school every day."
This year’s honorees were recognized across ten award categories:
STAFF AWARDS
Professional Pursuits Award
Lindsay Schiller, Director of Career Development, was honored for her exceptional commitment to ongoing professional learning, growth, and leadership. Schiller consistently demonstrates a deep dedication to strengthening her expertise, expanding her knowledge, and contributing meaningfully to the broader career development field. Over the past year, she has completed UVA HR training in Situational Leadership, Crucial Conversations, Managing Conflict, and Emotional Intelligence in Action as part of the New Manager Certification Track, which she aims to complete in 2026. She also recently graduated from the SoACE LEAD Fellowship. "Her sustained commitment to professional development enriches not only her own growth but also the experiences and outcomes of A-School students, faculty, and staff. She models intellectual curiosity, initiative, and a strong growth mindset."
Staff Mentorship Award
Associate Dean of Student Affairs Cindy Kiefer received this award for "exemplifying what it means to invest in the people around you." From organizing Coffee and Community events and leading food drives, to advocating for first-generation students and supporting staff professional development, Kiefer shows up for the A-School community in ways both big and small. One of her nominators wrote, "Her encouragement and check-ins have made a meaningful difference in my confidence and sense of belonging."
Community Engagement Award
Enterprise Systems Lead Ryan McKinnon was celebrated for using his skills, time, and generosity to make meaningful difference in the A-School community. Serving on the UVA Staff Senate, in a vital role that contributes to staff communication and the refinement of Staff Council bylaws, McKinnon was described as someone for whom "dedication to others is simply part of who his is, both professionally and in the community." McKinnon "approaches every challenge with intelligence, care and a collaborative spirit."
Staff Service Awards
IT Support Technician Derrick Elder and Executive Assistant to the Dean Saskia Santen were recognized for going above and beyond their job descriptions to support the School of Architecture and its mission. Described by one of his nominators as "a saving grace," Elder was recognized for his exceptional patience and supportive character, and as someone who helps other "function and grow" at the A-School. Exemplifying a level of professionalism grounded in trust and care, Santen was acknowledged for composure and sound judgment. One of her nominators explained, "One can simply say she is a saint...she is attentive to the human dimensions of [her] efforts, recognizing that the sucess of an institution depends not only on efficiency, but on whether people feel supported, informed, and respected."
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| Clockwise from top left: A-School faculty and staff convene in community with each other at the Pavilion IX garden to recognize and celebrate colleagues; Kyle Sturgeon congratulates Melissa Goldman as she receives the Anselmo Canfora Award for Leadership and Collaborative Excellence; Honorifics Committee Member LaQuinta Spellman presents the Staff Mentorship Award to Cindy Kiefer. | |
FACULTY AWARDS
Faculty Mentorship Award
Vincent and Eleanor Shea Professor and Chair of Architecture Jeana Ripple was celebrated for her mentorship of both students and colleagues. She brings to her role a rare combination of institutional knowledge, intellectual clarity, and humane leadership. “Whether advising early-career faculty navigating teaching expectations, promotion pathways, or service responsibilities, or supporting students as they develop confidence and professional direction, she consistently meets people where they are and helps them move forward with clarity and purpose,” said one nominator.
Research and Scholarship Award
Ali Fard, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Director of MIST Lab, was recognized for the originality and relevance of his research. A nominator explained, "His research is not only theoretical but also spatially and publicly engaged—receiving significant external recognition," including the ACSA Faculty Design Award (2026) and the SOM Foundation Research Prize (2026).
Associate Professor and Chair of Landscape Architecture Leena Cho was honored for research that "has consistently expanded the scope of architectural and landscape scholarship by engaging environments and contexts that are both critically urgent and epistemically complex." Her longstanding leadership as Co-Director of the Arctic Design Group has helped develop research frameworks that foreground indigenous knowledge systems, environmental stewardship, and design practices attuned to extreme and rapidly changing climates.
Teaching Excellence Award
Inés Martín-Robles, Associate Professor of Architecture, was celebrated for her dynamic teaching that challenges us to engage deeply with place, culture, and narratives. “Ines has an exceptional ability to guide students in synthesizing historical context with the contemporary needs of urban fabrics, while also encouraging bold, innovative forms of architectural expression. She is passionate yet practical, supportive yet demanding — always pushing student to reach their full potential,” wrote one of her colleagues.
Assistant Professor of Architecture María González Aranguren was lauded for her vast knowledge of design, "from the macro idea across a whole city to the construction of the smallest space for one or two people." A student who nominated her noted, “Whenever I felt lost or confused, María was always able to help move my project forward—not by telling me what to do—but rather by empowering me with specific strategies, precedents, and other tools to resolve difficulties or make changes derived from my own choices."
Assistant Professor of Architecture Mohamed Ismail was recognized for remarkable pedagogical clarity and generosity. A nominator wrote, "He reframes construction education as a critical practice grounded in material ethics, industrial histories, and socio-cultural consequence. Through a carefully structured blend of lectures, site visits, guest contributions, hands-on material casting, drawing exercises, and reflective sketchbook work, students learn how to read buildings, both in drawings and in the world."
New Faculty Teaching Award
Lecturer and PhD candidate in the Constructed Environment Tithi Sanyal received this award for her outstanding teaching contributions. “She is highly attentive to her students, helping them build confidence while encouraging them to see design as an inquiry and discovery process,” wrote a colleague and nominator. "Student respond positively to her mentorship, and it is clear that they value both her dedication and her insight."
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| Clockwise from top left: CL Bohannon, chair of the Honorifics Committee presents faculty awardee Mohamed Ismail his award for Teaching Excellence; Lindsay Schiller (left) receives the award for Staff Professional Pursuits from Honorifics Committee Member Tashana Starks (right); Tashana Starks presents the Research and Scholarship Award to Ali Fard. | |
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.
Empowering countless students, faculty, and staff, Fabrication Lab Manager Melissa Goldman is "the heart of our maker culture." Exemplifying the characteristics of this award, Goldman is as committed to inquiry as service, and inspires us all to create meaningful experiences with our students. One of her nominators described her a "the unofficial mayor" of Charlottesville and the A-School — someone who gives grace and thinks the best of everyone."
Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Community Engagement CL Bohannon was honored for his exceptional leadership. With a deep commitment to access, equity, and student success, Bohannon exemplifies the values of the award’s namesake. Since his arrival on Grounds, CL has been a confidante amongst students, faculty, and staff, welcoming anyone in his office for a snack, some tea, and a safe space to unburden their feelings,” wrote one nominator. A mentor and a friend to many, Bohannon is a advocate for creating, building and sustaining community at the School of Architecture.
Congratulations to our 2026 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
Shiqiao Li, Weedon Professor in Asian Architecture
Saskia Santen, Office of the Dean Executive Assistant
Lindsay Schiller, Director of Career Development
LaQuinta Spellman, IT User Services Lead
Tashana Starks, Director of Advising and Academic Support
Kyle Sturgeon, Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives
Peter Waldman, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Architecture
