Ordia honored with ASID Educator of the Year Award

The College of Architecture is pleased to announce Assistant Professor of Interior Design Kendra Ordia was honored with two prestigious accolades from the American Society of Interior designers (ASID):  this year’s 2024 ASID Educator of the Year Award and has been named one of seven to serve as director at large on the ASID National Board of Directors.

“Receiving the 2024 ASID Educator of the Year is a tremendous honor primarily because I was selected after being nominated by fourth year interior design students,” said Kendra Ordia. “To have your students recognize your efforts and passion for not only classroom instruction, but also their personal development through mentorship, is why we do what we do.  This year has been specifically special in the interior design community as we have been able to pass state legislation for the recognition of the profession – a process the students have followed along with me since their time at the College of Architecture.  I have a strong commitment to growing and promoting the next generation of designers and what better way than to also give them expanded professional opportunities with our home state of Nebraska! “

This ASID Educator of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding design educator who has made an impact on the lives of students and works to advance interior design education through leadership, vision and advocacy.

“Ordia has always had a passion for service not only to our students but the profession as a whole,” said Lindsey Bahe. “It is an honor to have one of our faculty members professionally recognized at the national level with the Educator of the Year Award.  And I can’t think of a better person to serve as an ASID director than Kendra.   It’s a reflection of her lifetime commitment to advancing our profession.”

The ASID Board of Directors is the governing body for the Society. The Board meets quarterly to provide strategic and financial oversight and direction to the CEO who manages the organization on behalf of the Board.

“Being named to the ASID National Board of Directors as a Director at Large for the next three years is a huge honor.  Some of my mentors have served in similar roles, and I have admired ASID leadership and been a direct beneficiary of the organization. ASID has been extremely informative in my path as an educator.”

In addition to this year’s award, Ordia earned the 2023 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Teaching Excellence Award, a 2020 ASID Ones to Watch designation and the 2011 ASID Foundation Legacy Scholarship for Graduate Students. 

Ordia has a long history of service and outreach including being a speaker at multiple ASID SCALE student conferences and has served as research team lead on the ASID Committee of Climate, Health, and Equity.    

“As a new member of the Board of Directors, I hope to continue to build on my involvement in relevant industry discussions and leadership, which will allow me to continue to build on contemporary and relevant issues in my design courses and within our Interior Design department.”