Faculty Accolades

Faculty Awards and Recognition

Christopher Genik, AIA—Dean
• Received a national American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award
• Recipient of the Gold Medal for Urban Excellence from the Bruner Foundation
• Selected as one of eight "Emerging Voices" by the Architectural League of New York in 1999
• Featured in Emerging Architecture and the Taschen book Architecture Now! in 2001
• Selected for three design awards from the AIA/LA in 2000.

Kurt Hunker, AIA—Graduate Programs Chair
• Received multiple design awards from the AIA
• Two-time NSAD Teacher of the Year

Gilbert D. Cooke, AIA—Dean Emeritus
• Led a firm in Baltimore that garnered several local and state AIA design awards
• Recipient of the 2006 AIA California Council Citation for Excellence in Education
• Honored in 2006 as first recipient of NSAD’s Richard Welsh Distinguished Service Award
• 2010 Recipient of an honorary Master of Architecture from NewSchool of Architecture and Design

Mitra Kanaani, AIA, D.Arch—Undergraduate Department Chair
• 2010 AIA California Council Excellence in Education Honor Award recipient
• Received outstanding educator awards from the AIA California Council and AIA San Diego
• Earned Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture service award
• NSAD Teacher of the Year

Michael Stepner, FAIA, FAICP—Faculty Coordinator
• Received multiple awards for advocacy of responsible growth and leadership in community planning

Adriana Cuellar—Faculty
• Winner of the Rome Prize, a fellowship for emerging artists and scholars at the American Academy in Rome, 2006

Leslie Ryan—Faculty
• Winner of the Rome Prize, a fellowship for emerging artists and scholars at the American Academy in Rome, 1995

Federico Von Borstel—Faculty
• Received two Fulbright Fellowships for the study of arts and culture of Mexico

Len Zegarski—Faculty
• Laureate Distinguished Service Award recipient
• 2010 NSAD Faculty Member of the Year

AIA College of Fellows
The following full-time and adjunct faculty members were elevated to the AIA College of Fellows (FAIA designation), the highest professional recognition in architecture:
• Alison Whitelaw
• Michael Stepner
• Jack Carpenter
• Ed Oremen
• Tom Anglewicz (advisory board member)
• Doug Austin (advisory board member)