Gina Fernandes

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Bio

Gina Maria Fernandes, Associate NOMA, Associate AIA, LEED GA, is a doctoral student from
Seattle, Washington. She is pursuing her doctoral research in the areas of design methods and
learning for design, with a focus on the design of equitable learning environments at post-secondary
institutions that foster a sense of belonging and mattering for minority students while simultaneously
engaging students in the design process.

Gina previously worked as an architectural designer and a co-chair of the Justice, Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion Team at Ayers Saint Gross. She served as 2019-2020 President of the DC Chapter of
the National Organization of Minority Architects (DCNOMA), which received the 2019 Most Improved
Chapter of the Year Award within NOMA. She is also served as an adjunct faculty member at the
University of the District of Columbia (UDC) teaching a fourth-year studio that focuses on
sustainable design and requires students to submit a project to the Annual Solar Decathlon Design
Challenge and a second-year student that focuses on bridging the design process with basic
construction documents. Outside of her studies, Gina enjoys making mixed-media art and eating
sandwiches.

▸ Advisor: Dr. Lesley-Ann Noel

Area(s) of Expertise

▪︎ University and Campus Design
▪︎ Student Engagement in the Design Process
▪︎ Designing Learning Spaces for Student Belonging
▪︎ JEDI in Professional Practice of Architecture