New office at job site:
After many months of planning, I officially have a new place of work on the construction site for the soon-to-be-built Shire Regenerative Medicine campus in Mira Masa, California.

Date:  January 29th, 2013

 After many months of planning, I officially have a new place of work on the construction site for the soon-to-be-built Shire Regenerative Medicine campus.  The site is located in Mira Mesa California and has spectacular views of the surrounding vista.  I am looking forward to putting on my hard hat, buying some steel toed boots, and seeing this building come to life.

Architect Magazine: AIA: This month, AIA’s William Richards published a professional profile on me in Architect Magazine. I am so thrilled to be included in this amazing magazine so early in my career.

Date: August 19, 2012

Publication: View Article, Click Here 

When Architect Magazine called me and asked to publish a profile on my triple degree and career trajectory, I was utterly shocked to have been singled out by such an amazing periodical. I am truly thrilled to have been selected to be a part of a magazine that has profiled so many amazing architects and designers in its pages. Thank you to William Richards and all the AIA staff that made this experience possible.

Intern Architect/Drafter: After several interviews and three job offers, I have am excited to be joining the FPBA Team.

Date: June 15, 2012

Website: Click Here

After five long and amazing years at the University of Arizona, studying Architecture, Regional Development, and Business Management I was eager to get started in my professional career.  I began my job search looking at the top 100 architecture firms in Southern California, and after several interviews and three different job offers, I am thrilled to be joining the team of Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects as an Intern Architect/Draftperson!  I am certain that both the staff and projects I will be working with will help propel me to the stars!

CBS/KOLD: First TV Debut Interview with CBS/KOLD 13 News. Headline news broadcast time-lining accomplishment of triple bachelors and various architectural achievements.

Date:  May 15, 2012

Video: View Video, Click Here

My first National Television Debut!   An interview with reporter Paige Hansen of KOLD/CBS News on Graduation day.  This was such a fun experience and I was so honored to be selected to share my story! The interview headlined the news broadcast and time-lined my accomplishments of triple majoring and various architectural achievements. One of the best parts was watching Paige set up sound, shoot the video, and carry off the interview. Talk about skillz!

UA News:

Date:  May 8th, 2012

Publication: View Article, Click Here

My time at the University of Arizona has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  And the icing on the cake is that the UA has done so much to showcase all my acheivments.  On May 8th, I was featured in a Headline Article with UANews:  A huge THANK YOU to La Monica Everett-Haynes, UA University Communications, for all the kind props, and for writing such a great article in the May 08th issue of UANews !!!  I am truly honored and grateful for the recognition!

Dean’s Award:

Date: May 10th, 2012

Publication: View Article, Click Here

To top off my experience with the UA Honors College, I also received the Dean’s Award of Excellence, given to a graduating senior for academic excellence and outstanding achievement.  It was a surreal experience to stand in front of my entire graduating class and have the Dean of the Honor’s College recap my last five years and present me with the award.

DaVinci Award:

Date:  May 7th, 2012

Upon graduation, I was a recipient of the Da Vinci award, marking me as the first in the University’s history to graduate, with honors, from three different colleges in the UA system, with degrees in Architecture, Regional Planning, and Business Administration.

Eller Thesis Awards: Overall Best Thesis of 2012:  Award granted for overall best thesis project in Eller College with respect to quantitative and qualitative analysis. Most Creative Thesis of 2012:  Award granted for most creative thesis project in Eller College.

Date:  May 10th, 2012

What an amazingly awards-filled extravaganza to finish off my school career!  Because I was in Honors College, I had to present a thesis for each of my three degrees.  There were 3 special recognition awards presented, and I was recipient of 2 of the 3 – Most Creative Thesis Project and Best Overall Thesis Project – both for my business thesis, “Strategic Management of an Architectural Firm”.

Graduation with a Triple Bachelors: Since I was 12 years old, I have dreamed of being an architect.  Today, this dream is closer than it has ever been, as I will be the 8th person in the history of UA to graduate with three degrees in architecture, regional development, and business management, with a minor in architecture history and theory.  

Date:  May 15, 2012

Looking back on the last five years, I am amazed at what an incredible journey I have had at the UA.  I originally went to UA to study architecture, but also had a long standing interest in sustainable design.  In my choice for perusing my additional degrees in regional development and business management, I was seeking ways to better understand sustainable design in a more holistic manner (environmental, social, and economic sustainability).

Regional Development gave me the opportunity to look at the built environment and planning initiatives on a macro scale.  My studies in this degree allowed me to really dive into how and why cities form, and to look at the social behavior and social economics of the urban landscape. It also allowed me to investigate the point of views of developer’s and public organizations with respect to site development.  This was important as I hope to be an architect that can respond in a thoughtful and meaningful way to this current generation’s values while not compromising the initiatives of developers and planners.

My Business Management degree allowed me to gain exposure into basic concepts of economics and organizational strategies.  I took opportunities during my studies in business to investigate concepts of economies of scale, economies of scope, switching costs, supply and demand, and supply chain management.  These concepts strongly resonated with ideas of economic sustainability in design.  Additionally, I took classes in risk management and team dynamics to help me understand basic ideas of leadership and motivation for when I was practicing architecture and dealing with all the stakeholders involved in my future projects.

Finally, my architecture degree gave me a venue to test many of these ideas. In reflecting on your question regarding my ability to integrate each of my degrees, I believe that architecture was the place in which this occurred most.  I tried to synthesis these large concepts brought forth in regional development and business management into a singular project, program, site, or building design.

AZ Daily Star: Front page article featuring photos and stories of UA’s top graduates. Student Select from a class of 5,000 individuals.

Date:  May 12, 2012

Publication: View Article, Click Here

Another media spotlight moment.  This time, an interview with Arizona Daily Star reporter, Carol Ann Alaimo.  Carol reports that in today’s UA graduation ceremony, “more than 4,200 bachelor’s degrees will be awarded. Most members of the UA’s Class of 2012 will receive one or two degrees.  But the group also includes a rarity (that’s me – big grin) an undergrad who earned three very different UA degrees, all at the same time, all with Honor Distinctions”.