Associate Professor Román Montoto studied art history and criticism in preparation for pursuing the field of architecture at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. While there, he also obtained a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture degree while beginning his exposure to architectural practice in local firms. Upon completion of studies, he transitioned to the city of Chicago to further his experience in professional architectural practice. After several years working on projects ranging from small chapels to residential high rises, an invitation to instruct architectural design studios at UW-Milwaukee was extended to him. After this exposure, the potential for creative and pedagogical exploration for design, as part of academia, catalyzed a shift of his career from the professional into the academic, resulting in his current position as an assistant professor of architecture at the University of Idaho. He currently is researching pedagogical approaches to the architectural design studio with beginning design, transdisciplinary exploration, and digital design and fabrication techniques as his focus, dissemination of which includes academic writings, presentations, and creative works such as design competitions and short films.