I have spent my adult life collecting varied academic, industry and personal experiences exploring the built environment across a broad range of cultural and physical topographies. I received a BArch from Iowa State University and then practiced architecture for one year in Iowa at the progressive, design-infused practice of OPN Architects, Inc. and for five years in New York City with the award winning descendant firm of Marcel Breuer, Beckhard Richlan Szerbaty and Associates (BRS+A). In 2003 I was accepted into a construction-focused architecture lab, Matsumura laboratory, at the University of Tokyo. I worked to complete a two-year MSc degree with research and practice focused on semi-autonomous house designs, conversion of abandoned buildings and incremental improvements to informal settlements across multiple countries to include: Turkey, Korea, Brazil, Venezuela, Italy and the USA. Following the completion of my MSc degree I was offered a position as a Research Associate on the Adaptable Future’s project at Loughborough where he quickly grew a network of industry partners and projects to infuse the research with real building and practice case studies. This work led to a follow-on Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with a select number of practices and a co-authored book, Adaptable Architecture: theory and practice. I wrote my PhD on the topic of Designing for Adaptability which I received from Loughborough University in 2014. As a practitioner, I continues to explore the built environment working on projects in China, Japan, Germany and the USA through Idapu, my own design and research consultancy. I am excited to find myself, amidst the shifting landscape of architectural education in the UK, playing a leading role in the development of Loughborough University’s new and innovative architecture program. My vast body of knowledge and experience of architecture programmes in Asia, Europe and the Americas provide an extensive framework from which to shape innovative approaches to the school’s architectural education.

Broad interests and activities

I have an appetite for new experiences and challenges which is fulfilled through my enthusiasm and motivation for architecture and architectural education. This has driven me to follow an unconventional pathway with my love for studying, constructing and experiencing the built environment. I enjoy the challenge to creatively engage and successively solve problems. I have a broad interest in design and have done a number of design projects including web design, graphic design, event design and photography.