KI Applauds IIDA 2020 Educator of the Year, Nebraska Architecture Dean Katherine Ankerson
KI is proud to present Katherine Ankerson, dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with the IIDA 2020 Educator of the Year Award. KI and IIDA jointly honored Ankerson at a virtual awards ceremony on June 11.
“We’re delighted to present Katherine with this award in recognition of her extraordinary efforts in service of students and the design community,” said Bryan Ballegeer, vice president of education markets at KI, which sponsored the award. “At KI, we believe in the power of design to transform communities and learning environments. Katherine has equipped countless designers with the skills to do so.”
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 winner receives a $10,000 cash prize, a complimentary IIDA membership and features on IIDA.org and in DesignMatters, IIDA’s flagship newsletter.
Ankerson was also inducted into the IIDA College of Fellows, the organization’s highest and most prestigious honor. As a Fellow, Ankerson will mentor aspiring designers and run educational programs.
“It’s a joy and a privilege to honor Katherine as Educator of the Year and an inductee to our College of Fellows,” said Cheryl Durst, executive vice president and CEO of IIDA. “We can’t wait to work with her to teach and inspire the next generation of designers.”
Ankerson served on the faculty at Nebraska from 1996 to 2011. Before returning to Nebraska in 2016, Ankerson was professor and head of the Department of Interior Architecture and Product Design at Kansas State University. She has also held academic positions at Radford University and Washington State University.
“I am so honored to receive this award and have been blessed throughout my career by many encouraging mentors and colleagues,” said Ankerson. “Seeing the impact each educator has on the future of the design profession keeps me centered and enthusiastic about the future.”
About KI
KI manufactures innovative furniture and moveable wall system solutions for education, healthcare, government and corporate markets. The employee-owned company is headquartered in Green Bay, Wis. and operates sales offices and manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. KI tailors products and service solutions to the specific needs of each customer through its unique design and manufacturing philosophy. For more information, visit www.ki.com.
About IIDA
IIDA is the commercial interior design association with a 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 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. www.iida.org
