Petya Stefanoff, a Ph.D. student in OU’s Planning, Design and Construction degree program, has been honored with the Annual Outstanding Plan Award by the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Planning Association, alongside her teammates. The plan features revitalization efforts in the Twin Lake area, aiming to activate the space with compact improvements that support multiple outdoor activities. The project is expected to boost the economic vitality and tourism, bringing the surroundings to a desired destination for residents and visitors. A standout aspect of the plan is its strong community engagement; the team actively applied the core principles of “inform, engage, empower,” hosting numerous public meetings and charettes that brought stakeholders together to collaboratively shape the vision.
Stefanoff and teammates accepting the Annual Outstanding Plan Award.
Stefanoff’s doctoral research explores how place attachment fosters cohesion in communities, and this project exemplifies how a built environment can unite and empower a community. Stefanoff’s doctoral adviser is Dr. Charlie Warnken.
The Outstanding Plan Award highlights the significance of her and her team’s project ability to advance the art and science of planning as a whole.
Stefanoff began her journey at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Geodesy in Bulgaria. Witnessing the fall of the Iron Curtain during her college years, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and later earned an additional bachelor’s in architecture and urban planning. After moving to the U.S., she graduated with a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Kansas. Working in the field of engineering and architecture for a number of years, she was given a task at one time to create a training program for employees. As part of this effort, Stefanoff enrolled at OU and graduated with a Master of Adult Education. Her dedication to building and sustaining strong communities inspired her to enter the doctoral program in Planning, Design, and Construction within the OU School of Architecture.
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
