Gibbs College welcomes new assistant professors Terry Clinefelter in the Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division and Dr. Wei Liu in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design.
Terry Clinefelter brings more than 15 years of leadership and teaching experience in construction education, along with a strong professional background in residential and light commercial construction. He previously served as Department Head of the Construction Technology program at Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City, where he spearheaded curriculum development, expanded industry partnerships, and championed hands-on learning initiatives for students.
At OU, Clinefelter will contribute to both teaching and research. His teaching experience spans blueprint reading, estimating, construction management, energy-efficient construction, MEP systems, and sustainable construction. His research focuses on experiential learning in construction education, with particular emphasis on the role and cost of hands-on laboratory instruction in four-year construction science programs.
An award-winning scholar, urban designer, and AICP-certified planner, Dr. Wei Liu brings a strong record of research, teaching, and community engagement. His work focuses on strategies that help communities thrive by enhancing public spaces, encouraging collaboration, and supporting practical design solutions that make a lasting difference.
In his role as Assistant Professor, Dr. Liu will contribute in two key areas. He will teach core courses in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design program, preparing students for careers that shape the built and natural environments. Additionally, he will work with communities across Oklahoma on applied planning and design projects through the OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC).
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
