Faculty, staff recognized for research excellence in architecture, landscape architecture, and design

Sam Fox School faculty and staff will be recognized at WashU’s Global Research Excellence Showcase on Nov. 10 for academic research ranging from wastewater urbanism to graphic design history.

Sam Fox School faculty and staff to be recognized include:

Assistant Professor Seth Denizen will be recognized for his research with Christina Siebe of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) on how to safely reuse water in the Mezquital Valley of Mexico. Denizen and Siebe will give a presentation during the showcase.

Assistant Professor Chris Dingwall is completing two book-length research projects: “Selling Slavery: Race and the Industry of American Culture,” and “Black Designers in Chicago,” which is expected next spring from University of Chicago Press. An active collaborator, he initiated the Troubling Design Reading Group in the Art History & Archaeology department, Center for Humanities, and American Culture Studies program.

Associate Professor Jonathan Hanahan’s contributions to the university include chairing the new Master of Design for Human-Computer Interaction and Emerging Technology, founding the Sensory and Ambient Interfaces Lab to advance research on human-computer interaction in compromised environments, partnering with the McKelvey School of Engineering on developing a haptic sensory system, and promoting innovative, human-centered design across campus.

Professor Patty Heyda focuses on the design politics of American cities in her research, particularly spatial justice in weak market cities and transitioning suburbs. Her books “Radical Atlas of Ferguson, USA” (Belt Publishers, 2024) and “Rebuilding the American Town” (Routledge, 2024), closely study small towns and first-ring suburbs and the systemic and structural forces that guide their design and impact their residents. She is also the co-founder of the Urban Design Academic Council and a frequent guest speaker at renowned institutions across the country.

Chad Henry, director of research and innovation, will be recognized for his contributions to advancing groundbreaking research at the university.

The showcase, hosted by Provost Mark D. West, Executive Vice Provost Mary McKay, and Vice Chancellor Mark Lowe, celebrates the groundbreaking research led by WashU faculty and U.S. and global partners. In total, 17 WashU faculty, as well as graduate students and staff, will be recognized for their commitment to research addressing regional, national, and global societal challenges.