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 Association of American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence, known as the PROSE Awards, in the category of Social Sciences: Architecture and Urban Planning.
“This recognition came as a complete surprise, but I welcome the honor,” Wiley said. “The PROSE Awardees' work represents an unparalleled depth and breadth of subject matter expertise.”
Model Schools in the Model City
The PROSE Awards have recognized excellence in professional and scholarly publishing since 1976. The awards honor authors, editors, and publishers whose work makes significant contributions to their fields. The Association of American Publishers represents the nation’s leading book, journal, and education publishers and advocates for policies that support the creation and dissemination of professional and academic knowledge.
Published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Model Schools in the Model City examines how Black Washingtonians influenced urban planning and design policy for public education. The book contributes to scholarship in architectural history and urban studies and highlights the role of community leadership in shaping educational environments.
The book has also received national recognition as a finalist for the 2026 ASALH book prize.
A project by University of Oklahoma Architecture lecturer René Peralta, developed through Generica Architecture with co-director Monica Fragoso and collaborators Andrew Stone and Ty Brown-Field, is now on view in Gould Hall as a focused installation drawn from the recent exhibition Is Housing Still Housing? Houston’s Single-Family House.
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.
