Blog Archives

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

Jesús Fernando Limón is an architect and educator based in Southern California. Born in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, he studied architecture at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) and earned a second bachelor’s degree from Woodbury University in 2005, a binational academic path that reflects his interest in cross-border urbanism. 

In 2012, Limón founded Prismatica, an award-winning architectural practice known for its innovative, bold, and contextually sensitive solutions that engage with the unique complexities of the binational San Diego-Tijuana region. His work focuses on creating dynamic, socially responsible spaces that bridge cultural, political, and geographical divides. 

Olivia Mandel is an architectural designer, educator, and multidisciplinary artist. She graduated from NSA&D in 2015 and spent seven years working at Domestic Architecture under Roy McMakin, where she gained extensive experience in art-forward intention, craftsmanship, furniture/object design, and detail-driven project development. She later established an independent practice and continues to collaborate with other local architects on a range of projects.

Growing up on both coasts shaped her appreciation for regional character and place. After moving to San Diego, she developed a deep connection to the city and has remained committed to building a long-term practice and teaching presence there, with the goal of contributing meaningfully to the local architecture community.

Her professional work emphasizes thoughtful design, historic reverence, and an iterative process grounded in both craft and playfulness. As an educator, she supports students in developing strong design foundations, clear communication skills, and an understanding of architecture through critical thinking.