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NewSchool of Architecture & Design

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Andre Tejeda

Andre Tejeda

Andre Tejeda

Education

Masters in Building Construction, Georgia Institute of Technology

BBA in Marketing, Augusta State University – College of Business Administration

About Andre

With a wealth of experience spanning various roles and industries, Andre Tejeda is a seasoned professional in industrial development, construction, and academia. Currently serving as Sr. Principal for Industrial Development & Construction at Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center, he oversees strategic initiatives and project execution. Additionally, as an Adjunct Professor at NewSchool of Architecture and Design, Andre imparts his knowledge and expertise to future construction professionals. Prior to his current roles, he held leadership positions at CBRE and HD Supply, where he managed complex construction projects and programs. With a strong foundation in project management and construction services, Andre brings valuable insights and skills to every endeavor.

Tom Mulica

Thomas Mulica

About Thomas

Tom Mulica is an award winning licensed architect with diverse experience throughout the country including WA, TX, CA, KY and NM.  He believes the built world can and should provide joy and nurture that which makes us human.  He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington and a BA in Art History from Emory University.  His desire to pursue architecture stems from his Peace Corps service in Zimbabwe where he realized the power of the built world to affect positive change on daily life.  He has been active in both Habitat for Humanity and Architects without Borders- Seattle where he lead an interdisciplinary team to rethink the planning of the Rabour Village Project, Kenya and to design their vocational training center.  As principal and owner of Story Architecture and Design, his design passion lies at the interface between architectural history, contemporary living and the craft of construction.  

Education

Master of Architecture, University of Washington

Bachelor of Arts – Art History,Emory University

Professional Experience: 

Principal/Owner – Story Architecture and Design, Inc.  – 2016-Present 

Licenses/Registration: Licensed Architect, State of California 

Selected Publications and Recent Research: 

 “Craft, Community and Connections” presented at: 

The Path to Sustainable Development: Sustainable Ocean Education, Management, and Green Energy Cities  National Museum of Marine Science & Technology -  Keelung, Taiwan.  2024 

 

 “Design Teaching: Project Based Learning in Studio”; part of a week-long seminar presented to Department of Architecture at University of Inner Mongolia, 2023  

Rabi Sidawi

Rabi Sidawi

Education

M.A. Arch, Design Theory & Methodology, University of California (UCLA)

  1. Arch, Architecture, Tulane University
  2. Arch, Architecture, American University of Beirut

About Rabi

Rabi Sidawi AIA has practiced architecture since 1986, with experience in Berkeley, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Atlanta. Currently an Adjunct Professor at NSAD and Gwinnett Technical College, he brings expertise in construction management and interior design. Formerly, as a Senior AEC Solutions Consultant, he provided mentoring and consulting on AEC projects utilizing industry-leading BIM software. Rabi has also been a speaker at Autodesk University and other professional events, and holds multiple certifications including Autodesk Building Specialist and BIM 360 Technical Advisor. A member of the American Institute of Architects since 1996, he is a registered architect in Georgia, USA.

Stanley Buchesky

Stanley Buchesky is the Chairman and CEO of pi-top, a global education technology company that brings computer science education to students around the world using project based learning. He is also the founder and Managing Partner of the EdTech Fund, investing in seed stage education technology companies in K-12 and Higher Education.

In January 2017, Mr. Buchesky was appointed to serve as interim CFO of the U.S. Department of Education. He ran and oversaw all of the Department’s finances and operations during the initial days of the Administration until the Secretary could be confirmed by the Senate and other senior political appointees could be hired.

He has a passion for education. Stanley first became involved in education while leading mergers and acquisitions for McGraw-Hill and then as one of the founding board members of Equality Charter School in the Bronx. Starting with an idea in the heads of three educators, he led the school through start-up phase, established oversight committees, and eventually helped expand Equality from a single middle school to a high school as well, graduating its first senior class in 2018.

Stanley has led M&A departments and activities for large companies such as McGraw-Hill, L-3 Communications and Pitney Bowes, leading deals ranging from minority equity investments and joint ventures to multi-billion dollar transformational acquisitions. He has a depth of knowledge in private and public company tax and accounting issues and is a skilled negotiator. He has has also advised candidates for Governor in two different states on education policy.

Prior to a career in business, Stanley was an Airborne Ranger Army officer serving in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. He is a West Point graduate with a BS in computer science engineering and a double major in German and French, and he holds an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School.

Gary Brahm

Gary Brahm gained the honorary title of chancellor emeritus after having served as chancellor of Brandman University, now UMass Global, since 2007. As chancellor, he oversaw the overall operations of the institution, including an annual budget of $100+ million. In 2009, the university transformed from Chapman University College to Brandman University, a separately accredited institution. In 2021, Brandman left the Chapman University System to affiliate the University of Massachusetts and change its name to UMass Global. UMass Global is a WASC accredited, non-profit, institution that focuses on meeting the educational needs of working adult students nationally. 

Read more about him here.

Blas Herrera

Education

  • Master of Science in Architecture, Landscape and Urbanism, Woodbury University, San Diego
  • Bachelor of Architecture, Woodbury University, San Diego

About Blas

Blas Herrera studied architecture at Woodbury University in San Diego, California. In 2010 he moved to Mexico City to work for COLECTIVO MX, where he has collaborated in projects such as laboratories and offices for Probiomed and L’Oreal. He was teacher assistant for the Master of Washington University, St. Louis, summer program abroad, held in San Diego. He has worked in CROstudio, a collaborative practice that focuses on urban renewal through architecture, in urban studies at the border between Tijuana and San Diego. Blas earned his Master’s in Landscape and Urbanism at Woodbury University, San Diego and is currently collaborating in CROstudio and teaches at NewSchool of Architecture & Design.

Awards

  • Honorable mention, 2012. “Displaced Cartographies”. The Greatest Grid Competition, organized by the Architectural League of New York and the Museum of the City of New York. ‘Displaced Cartographies’ was included in the exhibition The Greatest Grid, on view at the Museum of the City of New York. Proposal developed in collaboration with Zooburbia collective, Mexico City.
  • Honorable mention, 2012. “Go with the flow”. 14th International Arquine Competition. 2012 Published in the: Arquine Magazine 60th edition “Go with the flow”. Proposal developed in collaboration with Zooburbia collective, Mexico City.

Raúl Díaz

Education

  • Mater of Urban Planning, City University of New York
  • Bachelor of Architecture, University of Southern California

Memberships

  • Member, American Institute of Architects

Vuslat Demircay

Education

  • Ph.D. in Building Science, METU in Turkey
  • Master of Architecture
  • Bachelor of Architecture, METU

About Vuslat

Vuslat is a long-time member of the NewSchool faculty. Raised in Germany, studied, licensed, practiced in Turkey, Vuslat made a shift from practice to academia in her early career years. She earned her Ph.D. from Middle East Technical University and taught architecture at this top-ranking university until she moved to the US. She continues her academic career in the United States at NewSchool since 2003.

Vuslat has been teaching architecture and design for over 30 years in multiple countries and the composition of her experiences span almost every area of design. Throughout her academic career she has developed and taught courses with an emphasis on instructional strategies and methodologies applicable to design studies, ranging from product and furniture design to regional planning including interior, building, neighborhood, urban, and city scale. Over the last 16 years at NewSchool, Vuslat taught courses in the areas of communication (graphic, oral, written), research methodology, building construction technology, construction history, professional practice, and thesis studio in graduate and undergraduate Architecture Program.

In her mid-career years, architectural pedagogy appeared as another major interest for Vuslat and as a subject matter expert in this area she has been assigned the ambassador by Architectural Schools in Turkey and participated in national and international professional organizations and commissions. She has presented several papers on pedagogy at conferences, symposia, and panels at European Association on Architectural Education EAAE, and ENHSA. These include the 2nd Workshop on Construction Teaching Methods, France in 2003, 19th International Conference on Re-integrating Theory & Design in Architectural Education, and 2nd International Conference on Changing Cities, Greece in 2015. She has been an active member of the Chamber of Architects in the development of curriculum basics towards the architectural registration process in Turkey.

The wide range of courses she teaches and her international/multicultural life and work experience bridging the two completely different parts of the world has shaped her personality for a life-long commitment as an avid learner. She is passionate to spread her inspiration to her students, whether those in their early years or those who are late in their journey, looking for new paths for themselves.

Vuslat has supervised around 150 graduate thesis studies in the past 16 years, both in teaching thesis seminar and design studio. Some of the graduates continue their thesis topics in doctoral programs, several thesis studies have been awarded by AIA- American Institute of Architects, San Diego Chapter and by other organizations, and others work in related fields. Her pedagogy prioritizes a trans-disciplinary approach and thorough analysis of a complex problem in its minor components and provides a learning experience by new ways of creative and critical thinking towards appropriate solutions through experimentation and developing an intellectual and innovative world vision.

Her scholarship includes journal publications, public lectures, conference presentations, edited books, book reviews, and contributions as a reviewer to peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. Vuslat was an invited juror, guest speaker, and keynote speaker at several schools in Turkey and in the US.

Vuslat was recognized with the prestigious President’s Award for her exceptional work in organizing and participating in the first ever Laureate Global Architecture and Design Summit.

Another path in her career -since 2011- is managing at a larger scale. In the past several years she served in many different capacities, among these were the positions of Acting Chair of Graduate Architecture Program, Chair of NCAP-Faculty Governance Council, Assessment Leader, Thesis Coordinator for Graduate Architecture Program, and Area Coordinator of Research for Undergraduate and Graduate Architecture. This exposure allowed her to investigate the intricacies of various programs.

She worked as a project designer and technical consultant in Turkey on national and international projects. Among those were the German Embassy Campus historic preservation project, German School, Goethe Library renovation project, residential, office, retail projects in Turkey, and residential remodeling projects in the US.

Vuslat speaks Turkish, German, and English fluently.

Awards

  • NewSchool President’s Award

Mitchell Dec

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Portland

About Mitch

Mitch works for Brightworks Sustainability leading their building energy services practice. The energy services team focuses on holistic energy engineering solutions working with architects and the other engineering disciplines to develop strategies & solutions for real-world performance improvements. Prior to joining Brightworks, Mitch spent 13 years working for Glumac where he was an Associate Principal. Mitch has been highly active on projects across the west coast from Seattle to San Diego, with highlights including multiple net-zero energy projects, and more than 15 LEED Platinum certified projects. This includes multiple projects earning the National AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Projects of the year, including Edith Green Wendell Wyatt earning the 2016 Top Ten Plus designation.

Awards

  • 2011 Building Design + Construction Magazine “40 Under 40”
  • 2012 Portland Business Journal “40 Under 40”
  • 2012 Oregon / SW Washington BetterBricks Special Judge’s Award

Additional Information

Representative project experience includes:

  • Wilshire Grand Tower, Tallest US Building West of Chicago
  • Indigo Twelve West, LEED Platinum Certified and first US urban high-rise to integrate wind turbines
  • Vestas North American Headquarters, LEED Platinum Certified
  • Daimler Trucks North American Headquarters, LEED Platinum Certified
  • Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Renovation, LEED Platinum Certified
  • Hassalo on 8th Mixed Use Development in Portland, LEED Platinum Certified featuring a manmade constructed wetland for 100% of water treatment onsite
  • University of Oregon Lewis Integrated Science Building, LEED Platinum Certified
  • University of Oregon Student Recreation Center, LEED Platinum Certified

Philipp Bosshart

Education

  • Master of Architecture, Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles, CA
  • Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences w/emphasis in Interior and Furniture Design, San Diego State University

About Philipp

Born and raised in Switzerland. The experience of working and studying architecture through a practical internship program in Switzerland, and the exposure to the production of architecture, has provided Mr. Bosshart with an opportunity to venture into the roam of Interior Design and Furniture Design at San Diego State University in southern California. While firmly settled in California he continued to expand his experience as a designer beyond the local traditions and environment. Continued collaborations with Los Angeles and Zurich based design firms, Mr. Bosshart has also studied under Ted Smiths Real Estate and Development program in order to pursue potentials in the entrepreneurial approach to architecture.

Current Projects

  • Several residential remodels and additions
  • Two self-initiated developments: 4-6 units
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