SA+P educators honored for teaching and professional achievement
November 16, 2017 - Rachel Whitt
Faculty at the internationally-renowned UNM School of Architecture + Planning (SA+P) are being recognized for their service and contribution to the industry.
Roger Schluntz, dean emeritus and SA+P professor, was recently awarded the Silver Medal for Lifetime Achievement by the New Mexico Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), at their annual conference, held in Albuquerque recently.
The award is presented to the nominee whose achievements advance the practice of architecture and exemplify outstanding professional accomplishments and sense of social responsibility.
“It is hard to know what Roger Schluntz values more, as his dedication to the profession and discipline of Architecture compels him to work tirelessly on multiple issues,” said Geraldine Forbes, dean of SA+P. “He enjoys teaching students about Professional Practice in that course, as well as working with professional organizations including AIA, NCARB, ACSA and Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society.”
During his career, Schluntz has provided leadership to SA+P and the profession by advancing architectural education through a combination of teaching, scholarship, advocacy, civic activism and mentorship. He has a multi-faceted record of “making things happen.”
Beyond the classroom, he has nurtured achievement of design excellence with universities, public institutions and governmental agencies. Encouraging and supporting faculty colleagues and students, while providing opportunities for them to excel in demonstrating their own unique capabilities.
“Professor Schluntz is a man who stands up for what he believes in and values,” Forbes said. “He is extremely deserving of the AIA New Mexico Lifetime Achievement award.”
Also recognized at the AIA New Mexico conference was Stephen Mora, adjunct lecturer at SA+P, who was honored as the 2017 Educator of the Year.
“We are very fortunate to have both full-time and part-time faculty members that consistently demonstrate excellence in teaching," said John Quale, chair of the Architecture Department. "I’m very pleased to hear that Stephen Mora was selected for Educator of the Year award from AIA New Mexico. It is a well-deserved honor for a hard-working individual. Like so many of our professors and instructors, he finds a way to connect with our students.”
Mora graduated from UNM in 2005 with a B.A. in Architecture and went on to earn his Master of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture. Mora is currently a practicing architect with Cherry See Reames Architects PC, in Albuquerque, and is teaching upper division studio and visualization courses at SA+P.
