Gina Fernandes
Ph.D. Student, ABD
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. Andrés Téllez
Education
Ph.D. in Design NC State University, 2022-present
Master of Architecture University of Maryland, 2018
Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration The George Washington University, 2010
Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs The George Washington University, 2009
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