Jeff Gill and Michael Somin, members of the school’s architecture advisory board, also will be inducted at AIA annual convention June 2013

San Diego—June 11, 2013—Kurt Hunker, director of graduate programs and graduate architecture program chair at NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD), has been elected as a member of the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows for his notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture through his commitment to education. In addition, two members of NSAD’s architecture advisory board were also named 2013 AIA fellows: Jeff Gill and Michael Somin. The three will be inducted into the College of Fellows during this year’s AIA annual convention in Denver June 20–22.

Roughly 2 percent of all architects in the United States been designated as fellows, according to the AIA. Other NSAD faculty members who have previously been inducted into the AIA College of Fellows include Gilbert Cooke and Michael Stepner.

 “We are very proud of the many contributions Kurt Hunker has made to the architecture profession and to NewSchool of Architecture and Design, and we are honored to have Jeff Gill and Michael Somin on our architecture advisory board,” said NSAD President Steve Altman. “This recognition through the AIA College of Fellows demonstrates our colleagues’ significant achievements over lengthy careers, all of which benefits our students and their education experience at NSAD.”

Hunker is a practicing and award-winner designer who has been with NSAD for more than 20 years. In 2011–2012 Hunker served as acting provost and provided important leadership for the institution. He was recognized as NSAD Teacher of the Year on two occasions, serves as guest lecturer to many local and regional organizations and has had his designs and research published in regional and national periodicals. Hunker has received extensive recognition for his research into the critical literature of tall buildings, which has been published in eVolo: “The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered: Critical Events Since 9/11.” Hunker has presented on the topic of tall buildings at conferences in Finland and England. He has won multiple design awards from the AIA and other professional associations.

The AIA is an organization of more than 83,000 licensed architects and associated professionals, and the College of Fellows is composed of AIA members who are elected by a jury of their peers after a yearlong process that requires nominations and extensive documentation.

About NewSchool of Architecture and Design
NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD), founded in 1980, is located in San Diego, California. NSAD was ranked among the top 10 undergraduate architecture schools in the western United States, according to the 2012 and 2013 DesignIntelligence reports on “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools.” NSAD is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. NSAD’s Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Executive Master of Architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NSAD also offers a pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, along with a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Arts, a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, a Master of Construction Management and a Master of Science in Architecture. The school’s expanding global design education offerings include a new Bachelor of Interior Design program available in 2013–2014. For more information, visit www.NewSchoolArch.edu.