Alaa Suliman Hamid MDes ’23 Selected as Visiting Faculty Fellow in Design for Spatial Justice at the University of Oregon College of Design
Alaa Suliman Hamid MDes ’23 has been selected as a Visiting Faculty Fellow in Design for Spatial Justice at the University of Oregon College of Design. She is currently teaching a landscape architecture studio, SOVEREIGN FLOWS — HEALING FLOWS, that examines spatial justice and the impact of settler-colonialism on the Klamath Basin and its Indigenous communities. Hamid brings a unique global perspective to her teaching and research, drawing from diverse experiences across the Middle East and North America. Hamid’s current work builds on her prize-winning MDes thesis, Ghostopia, which explored themes of resilience, memory, and justice in the Nile Basin.
“I am honored to serve as the Spatial Justice Fellow and to engage in meaningful work that uplifts Indigenous voices and advances equity. Collaborating directly with the Yurok Tribe has been particularly inspiring as we explore restorative approaches to land and water stewardship,” shared Alaa Suliman Hamid.
Her work reflects a commitment to addressing ecological and cultural resilience, challenging colonial narratives, reconstructing histories, and advancing activism through design. Her studio encourages students to critically engage with design as a tool for healing, advocacy, and transformation.
Photo courtesy of Alaa Suliman Hamid (Instagram and LinkedIn).
posted January, 2025
Alejandro Saldarriaga Rubio MArch ’23 Nominated for MCHAP Emerge Prize
Alejandro Saldarriaga Rubio MArch ’23 has been nominated for the fifth cycle of the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize for Emerging Practices (MCHAP EMERGE). The Prize was founded by the IIT in Chicago and it is a biennial award for outstanding built works architectural works of the 21st century in North, South, and Central America. Saldarriaga was nominated with his firm, Alsar-Atelier, on the project titled Alhambra’s Cross, a mid-pandemic outdoor chapel made with repurposed scaffolding. The project was done in collaboration with German Bahamon and the Colombian Society of architects.
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posted March, 2024
Marina DeFrates MArch ’23 Selected as 2023 U.S. Digital Corps Fellow
Marina DeFrates MArch ’23 has been selected as part of the second cohort of the U.S. Digital Corps supporting key priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration. Marina will spend the next two years working at the General Services Administration (GSA) supporting ideas from federal employees about how technology can improve customer experience as part of the 10x program. Marina was one of 48 Fellows selected from an extremely competitive applicant pool of over 1,355 applicants from across the country. Learn more about Marina and her work.
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posted November, 2023
