The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Architecture is proud to announce that Dean Katherine Ankerson, FIIDA, has been named the 2020 International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Educator of the Year. 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 KI; a complimentary IIDA membership; and a special feature on IIDA.org and Design Matters.
“Katherine is a devoted mentor and passionate proponent of design education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and exploration of new technologies,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “Her track record of supporting the next generation of design professionals along with championing the power of design excellence positions her as an exemplary Educator of the Year.”
This honor adds to Ankerson’s long list of accolades and accomplishments as an educator and advocate for the design community. In addition to the IIDA Educator of the Year Award, Ankerson was recently honored as an IIDA Fellow this year and in 2017 as a fellow by the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) and has held numerous prestigious professional positions. Notably Ankerson has served as a board member for design organizations such as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), the American Institute of Architects-Nebraska (AIA NE), the AIA NE Foundation, the Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education and IDEC among other professional contributions.
In addition to IIDA, Ankerson is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC). She is also a licensed architect in Washington and Nebraska and holds a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certificate.
IIDA supports design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms and their clients through their network of over 15,000 members across 58 countries. They advocate for advancements 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.
