Our people at CAA

Meet the creative minds powering CAA

At the College of Art and Architecture, our people are the heartbeat of everything we do. From award-winning faculty to industry-connected mentors, we’re all about immersive learning, pushing boundaries with research and creative work and building a brighter future through imagination and design. Whether you're exploring a career in architecture, art or digital innovation, you’ll find leaders here who are ready to help you achieve your goals.

Contact us

Email our team today and learn more about what CAA has to offer.

Email us today

Meet our administrative staff

Shauna Corry

Dean of the College of Art and Architecture and Associate Professor

Hannah Finkas-Ganders

Director of Development, College of Art and Architecture

Rebecca Senefsky

Director of Recruitment and Retention

Kimberly Osborne

Director, Administrative and Fiscal Operations

Joan Jones

Assistant to the Dean

Kaylena Townsend

Lead Academic Advisor

Our mission in action – Empowering the next generation of creators and changemakers.

  • Our vision: Designers transforming communities for a better tomorrow.
  • Core values: Integrity, creativity and collaboration.
  • Strategies: Leading sustainability and innovation in Idaho and beyond.

Ready to shape the world?

Check out our programs and start your journey with us today!

Explore Programs

CAA departments

Art and Design

Val Carter

Senior Instructor/Shop Technician

Megan Davis

Assistant Professor

Casey Doyle

Art and Design Department Associate Chair, Professor

Dave Gottwald

Associate Professor

Aaron Johnson

Assistant Professor

Delphine Keim

Art and Design Department Chair and Professor

Ariana Maki

Assistant Professor

Lauren McCleary

Clinical Associate Professor

Mike Sonnichsen

Associate Professor
Architecture

Matthew Brehm

Professor

Dwaine Carver

Associate Chair of Architecture, Associate Professor

Andrea Alberto Dutto

Assistant Professor

Xiao Hu

Professor

Scott Lawrence

Associate Professor, Director of Idaho Design Build

Carolina Manrique

Associate Professor

Phillip Mead

Associate Professor

Amy Rakich

 Assistant Professor 

Lori Smithey

Assistant Professor

Randall Teal

Architecture Department Chair, Professor

Damon Woods

Director, Integrated Design Lab 
Design and Environments

Lilian Alessa

Professor, Co-Director of the Center for Resilient Communities

Roberto Capecci

Clinical Assistant Professor

Andrew Kliskey

President’s Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Resilient Communities, Idaho EPSCoR Director

Kanghyun Lee

Assistant Professor

Mandi Roberts

Principal Landscape Architect, Lecturer

Raffaella Sini

Landscape Architecture Program Director, Associate Professor

Miranda S. Anderson

Interior Architecture and Design Program Director, Clinical Associate Professor, Design Resource Center coordinator

Rula Awwad-Rafferty

Department of Design and Environments Chair, Professor, Design UI Service Learning Fellow

Shauna Corry

Dean of the College of Art and Architecture and Associate Professor

Tharique De Silva

Assistant Professor Interior Architecture and Design

John Anderson

Professor, VTL Co-Manager

Rayce Bird

Associate Clinical Professor

Jean-Marc Gauthier

Virtual Technology and Design Program Director, Associate Professor and VRLab Design Lead

Yumna Kurdi

Assistant Professor 

Roger Lew

Research Associate Professor

Centers and labs

Center for Resilient Communities

Lilian Alessa
Professor, co-director of the Center for Resilient Communities
alessa@uidaho.edu

David Griffith
Community affiliate
crc@uidaho.edu

Andrew Kliskey
President’s professor and co-director of the Center for Resilient Communities, Idaho EPSCoR director
akliskey@uidaho.edu

Liz Rousseau
Program coordinator
erousseau@uidaho.edu

James Valentine
Research associate
valentine@uidaho.edu

Paula Williams
Research scientist
paulawilliams@uidaho.edu

Urban Design Center

Rula Awwad-Rafferty
Department of Design and Environments chair, professor, Design UI service-learning fellow
rulaa@uidaho.edu

Randall Teal
Architecture department chair, professor
rteal@uidaho.edu

Dwaine Carver
Associate chair of architecture, associate professor
dwaine@uidaho.edu

Emiliano Espasandin
Temporary lecturer
emilianoe@uidaho.edu

Carolina Manrique
Associate professor
cmanrique@uidaho.edu

Damon Woods
Director, Integrated Design Lab
dwoods@uidaho.edu

Integrated Design Lab

Learn more about the Integrated design lab team here.

Our leadership team

Meet the dean: Shauna Corry 

Dear friends,

Shauna Corry headshot

Welcome and thank you for visiting the College of Art and Architecture at University of Idaho.

The world faces many unique challenges, and it is our mission as makers, creators, designers, scholars and students to enhance the cultural assets of our state and develop solutions for the complex problems facing our world. Our research activities have broad impact, and our disciplines fuel Idaho’s creative economy and prepare students for careers in a growing and essential industry.

The work of artists, architects and designers permeates our cultural landscape. We craft nearly every aspect of built and virtual environments, from wood product designs, including furniture prototypes, to virtual worlds. We shape natural environments and plan communities, towns and cities. We provide beauty and carefully consider — often critically — the fabric of our everyday lives.

CAA offers a wide range of academic degree programs to foster creativity and innovation, with an emphasis on cultural and environmental stewardship. Our students are involved in hands-on activities, often working with industry professionals on real projects that provide them with the experience and perspective needed to become leaders in their field.

With two world-class research facilities in the state, virtual labs and established relationships with alumni and industry partners, all of Idaho is our classroom. We have a clear vision for the future and are prepared to meet the needs of our changing world.

At CAA, we extend opportunities for students across the world, and champion international, transformational experiences for our students here in the Gem State. Standing together, working together, learning together, we continue our commitment and passion to educate and inspire, to serve and mentor and to explore and empower an equitable, just, resilient and beautiful world.  

We’re helping to create a better, brighter future. We hope you’ll join us.

Warmly,

Shauna Corry, Ph.D.
Dean
College of Art and Architecture 

Meet our advisory board
  • Katie Bissett — Associate, BFS Landscape Architects - Monterey, CA
  • Jason Butler — Director and principal, Cushing Terrell - Boise, ID
  • Kylie Castellaw — Lead product manager and design researcher, ThoughtWorks - San Francisco, CA
  • Arlan Collins — Principal and co-founder, CollinsWoerman Architects - Seattle, WA
  • Claudia Day — Healthcare specialist - Boise, ID
  • Penny Dennis — Business development manager, Layton Construction - Boise, ID
  • Mark A. Engberg — Principal owner, COLAB Architecture + Urban Design LLC - Portland, OR
  • Jeff Heath — Chief executive officer, Business Interiors of Idaho - Boise, ID
  • Kate Holgate — Vice president and creative director, Stoltz Marketing Group - Boise, ID
  • David Huotari — Past principal and owner, ALSC Architects - Spokane, WA
  • Steve Johnson — Project manager, task lead | Parsons Brinkerhoff
  • Jennifer Lastra — Chief executive officer, 360 Immersive, LLC - Boise, ID
  • Jeremy Malone — RPA, vice president, Oppenheimer Development Corp. - Boise, ID
  • Stan Palmer — Project manager and architect, Rice Fergus Miller - Greater Seattle Area, WA
  • Mandi Roberts — AICP, PLA, ASLA, vice president and principal, OTAK - Kirkland, WA
  • Katie Solomon — Community and culture manager, Meta
  • Angie Tomisser — Interior designer, Rice Fergus Miller, Inc. - Bremerton, WA
  • Alexis Townsend — President, Lombard/Conrad Architects - Boise, ID
  • James Trayford — Digital media specialist, Olson Kundig - Seattle, WA
  • Kim Wiessner — Senior director, Product Design - onXmaps, Inc. - Greater Seattle Area, WA
  • Blair Williams — Gallery manager, Art Spirit Gallery - Coeur d'Alene, ID