Salma Akter Surma, a Ph.D. candidate at Gibbs College has co-authored a study published in the Journal of Urban Management. The research investigates the experiences of women in urban informal settlements of Khulna, Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on how housing infrastructure influenced caregiving responsibilities.
The study draws on interviews with 24 women community leaders to explore the impact of shared Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, constrained living spaces, and financial challenges on women’s caregiving roles. It details the adaptations these women made, such as reorganizing household spaces for isolation and utilizing community networks to manage caregiving and resource distribution during the pandemic. The findings highlight the role of inadequate housing in exacerbating caregiving challenges and underscore the importance of flexible and resilient infrastructure planning in resource-limited settings.
Additionally, the research examines the unique contributions of women as community leaders, who facilitated resource sharing, managed public health interventions, and addressed vulnerabilities during the crisis. Their efforts were central to navigating pandemic-induced hardships in the settlements.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture announces John Harris as Associate Dean for Research ad interim, effective Aug. 25, 2026, until the permanent position is filled.
Gibbs College is pleased to announce the 2026 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards recipients. These individuals were recognized by Dean Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting and will be honored during the Celebration Banquet in October. They were nominated by their colleagues via an open nomination process.
Telesis, the Gibbs College of Architecture’s student journal, has been awarded a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts to support its next two issues, “Pause” (Volume IX) and “React” (Volume X).
