The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to share that Frank Hicks, a graduate student in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, has been selected for the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s (LAF) Ignite Program.
Ignite is a national, multi-year program that provides participants with a $10,000 annual scholarship, paid summer internships, and one-on-one professional mentorship. Each year, only 4–7 students from across the country are chosen to join this prestigious program. With Frank’s incoming class, the Ignite cohort will grow to a total of 15 participants.
Frank earned his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from OU in 2024 and is now pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture, expected in 2026. He is also an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects Student Chapter (SCASLA).
Through Ignite, Frank will have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience, connect with mentors in the field, and continue building his leadership skills as he prepares for a career in landscape architecture.
“I’m so proud of Frank. Being selected as one of just 15 Landscape Architecture students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs across the country to participate in the program is a major accomplishment,” said Dr. Sarah Little, associate professor of Landscape Architecture at OU. “In addition to his professional and personal growth, his participation in Ignite propels the MLA@OU program onto a national stage.”
Gibbs College congratulates Frank on this achievement and looks forward to celebrating his continued success. To learn more, view the LAF Ignite announcement.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2025 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
On November 21, 2025, the Mainsite Contemporary Art gallery was transformed into a showcase of innovation and craftsmanship for the University of Oklahoma’s furniture design build studio exhibition, “Purpose in Form.”
Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.
