Faculty Accolades
Faculty Awards and Recognition
Steve Altman, DBA - President
• Recognized by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities for being one of the organization's founding members.
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
Kevin deFreitas – Faculty
• Winner of the National ‘Young Architect’ Award (2011, 2010), a prize that is recognized for high quality design, pro bono and community commitment, and AIA involvement.
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)
