Salma Akter Surma, a Ph.D. student advised by Dr. Suchi Bhattacharjee in Gibbs College’s Planning, Design and Construction program, has been awarded the Nancy L. Mergler Dissertation Completion Fellowship for the 2025–2026 academic year. This competitive fellowship, awarded by the OU Graduate College, supports outstanding doctoral candidates in the final stages of their dissertation research.
Her dissertation, titled “Trauma-Informed Built Environment: Exploring the Housing and Neighborhoods’ Impact on Refugee Children’s Well-Being in Resettlement Context,” investigates how housing environments can promote healing and stability for refugee children in the United States. Focusing on the experiences of Zomi refugee children in Tulsa, Oklahoma, her research explores how neighborhood design, housing conditions, and access to child-friendly amenities influence children’s safety, mental health, and overall well-being post-resettlement context.
The research is grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and guided by the trauma-informed principles established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Through participatory design workshops, photo-elicitation, interviews with refugee mothers, and environmental assessments, the creative design workshop with refugee children amplifies their voices and uncovers critical insights into how built environments can support their long-term well-being.
Findings highlight the negative impacts of overcrowded living conditions, lack of natural light, and limited access to parks and culturally familiar spaces—issues that contribute to stress and hinder successful integration. Her work advocates for child-centered, trauma-informed housing models that prioritize safety, cultural identity, emotional resilience, and belonging.
Salma extends her heartfelt gratitude to her Chair, Dr. Suchismita Bhattacharjee, Co-Chair Dr. Tamera McCuen, and committee members Dr. Bisel Ryan, Dr. Bryce C. Lowery, and Dr. Krista Schroeder for their invaluable guidance, encouragement, and support throughout this journey.
A special thanks to Professor Elizabeth Pober, Associate Dean Angela Person, Dean Hans E. Butzer, and the Gibbs College of Architecture for cultivating an interdisciplinary environment that empowers students to explore the planning, design, and construction of the built environment.
Salma proudly acknowledges the Dean of the Graduate College Randall S. Hewes, and Senior Associate Dean Liz Karr and Associate Dean Ioana Cionea, and the anonymous reviewers of Nancy L. Mergler Fellowship’s for recognizing her research’s depth, rigor, and significance in supporting justice and advancing knowledge for marginalized communities. Thanks to Mr. Will O’Donnell, Associate Director of Awards and Programming, for maintaining transparent and rapid communication with students.
Congratulations to Salma Akter Surma on receiving this prestigious fellowship and for her important contributions!
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
