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.
Petya holds bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Architecture and Urban Planning, master’s degrees in Architecture and Adult Education, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the PDC program.
Ms. Stefanoff has over a decade of experience in state and local government, along with private-sector work at engineering and architectural firms across several states. Her background gives her a unique perspective on how policy, design, and community growth intersect, which are the very areas she will oversee in her new role.
As Director of Community Development, she will lead the city's planning, zoning, and development services departments while guiding long-term initiatives that support Shawnee's continued growth. Her appointment highlights how the PDC program prepares students to translate academic learning into real-world impact.
A project designed by Gibbs College of Architecture faculty member Austin Lightle has been selected for BuildFest 2026, a national art and architecture festival held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in New York, on the historic grounds of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival.
Two Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture alumni are helping shape recommendations that could influence affordable housing design and construction across Oklahoma.
The University of Oklahoma Libraries recently welcomed Carl Siegel as an Architecture Librarian and Archivist and Assistant Professor. In his role, Siegel supports students, faculty and staff across the Gibbs College of Architecture while also serving as archivist for the American School of Architecture Archives.
