FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 29, 2018

IIDA ANNOUNCES DR. PAMELA EVANS AS EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AND ALLISON BROWN AS STUDENT OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO, IL – IIDA proudly announces the 2018 Educator of the Year and Student of the Year. This year’s Educator of the Year Award recipient is Pamela Evans, Ph.D., IIDA, FIDEC, LEED AP, Kent State University Director and Associate Professor of Interior Design. The 2018 IIDA Student of the Year Award recipient is Allison Brown, Student IIDA, a recent graduate of Utah State University (USU).

The IIDA Educator of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates a full-time design educator for outstanding accomplishments and commitment to interior design education. The award includes a $10,000 cash prize, sponsored by Milliken.

“With outstanding leadership, Pamela’s unwavering commitment to design education and understanding of the power of design is unmatched. She has an unparalleled passion for advancing the profession through education and advocacy,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP. “In her multiple roles as a leader, an administrator, and an educator, she makes each a priority in her work. We’re proud to honor Pamela’s achievements and influence by naming her the 2018 IIDA Educator of the Year.”

Evans has been the interior design program director and professor of interior design at Kent State for more than 28 years. She was honored with the Presidential Award from the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) in 2007 and the Award of Excellence from IDEC in 2008.

As an educator, Evans impacts her students profoundly by enlightening, encouraging, and empowering them to succeed. Evans will retire in January of 2019 with a wide array of awards, designations, certifications, titles, and consultancy work under her belt — and a significant legacy that lives on in her many students who have become successful designers and leaders in the profession.

The IIDA Student of the Year Award recognizes an IIDA Student Member who has significantly impacted their school’s interior design program through outstanding leadership, insight, and involvement. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize, sponsored by OFS Brands.

“With ambition and tenacity, Allison has dedicated herself to the design profession, the advancement of IIDA, and the continued commitment to design excellence through her leadership as the USU IIDA Campus Center President,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP. “Her remarkable work ethic has landed her prestigious design internships and earned her a LEED certification, all before graduation. We’re proud to recognize Allison as the 2018 IIDA Student of the Year.”

Brown, a senior at USU, has served as vice president and, more recently, president of the university’s IIDA Campus Center. Throughout her time as an IIDA Student Member, she has mentored several students to become more involved in the Association, the campus center, and chapter events. Brown’s dedication and sincere eagerness to learn have helped her to graduate magna cum laude.

For several years, Brown has participated in exceptional humanitarian projects through Project Amigo in Colima, Mexico. Brown is looking forward to starting her career as a professional designer.

The 2018 Educator of the Year and Student of the Year Awards presentation will take place at the IIDA Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

For more information about the IIDA Educator and Student of the Year Awards, visit the IIDA website.

# # #

About the International Interior Design Association
IIDA is the commercial interior design association with global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancement in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. www.iida.org