The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) has named Lisa Tucker, program chair of the Interior Design Program in Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies, 2016 Educator of the Year. Tucker is an associate professor and practicing interior designer and architect.

The IIDA presented the award during its annual meeting on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. The IIDA supports design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through a network of more than 15,000 members across 58 countries.

In her award letter, IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst remarked,  “Professor Tucker is at the forefront of incorporating sustainability, historic preservation, and biophilic design into interior design education, providing valuable expertise to students on these extremely timely and critical topics. In addition, her desire to positively impact her students through practical and theoretical experiences illustrates her deep commitment to interior design education. We are so pleased to name her the recipient of this year’s IIDA Educator of the Year Award.”

In addition to this honor from the IIDA, Tucker has been named Fellow by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). The 2016 Class of Fellows will be honored at Celebration, the Society’s Annual Gala, July 16, 2016, in Minneapolis. Each year, ASID bestows the title of Fellow to individuals who demonstrate outstanding service and contributions to the society, the profession, and the interior design industry. It is the highest distinction a member can receive from ASID.

Tucker has been recognized nationally as one of the Most Admired Design Educators of 2010 by DesignIntelligence; she was nominated for the Robert Cherry Award for Great Teaching by the Center for Instructional Design Education and Research in 2014; and in 2015, she was awarded the prestigious Nancy Vincent McClelland award for contributions to interior design education. At Virginia Tech, she has been honored with the School of Architecture and Design’s 2008 New Faculty Teaching Award, the College of Architecture and Urban Studies Teaching Award in 2008 and 2009, the College Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 2011, and the Alumni Teaching Award in 2013, which included induction into the university’s Academy of Teaching Excellence.

Tucker has been a practicing interior designer and architect for 20 years with a specialization in sustainability and historic preservation. In addition to being a registered architect and Virginia Certified Interior Designer, she is a LEED BD + C accredited professional. She holds degrees in architecture and architectural history from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri—Columbia in architectural studies. 

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