Announcing our 2026-27 Graduate Scholars and Fellows

This fall, the UVA School of Architecture is pleased to announce the 2026–27 graduate scholars and fellows, recognizing incoming students who demonstrate exceptional promise in advanced study of the built environment.

PUBLIC HISTORY FELLOWS

Launched in fall 2024 by the Department of Architectural History, the Public History Fellowship equips incoming Master of Architectural History (MArH) students with resources, training, and immersive experiences to reimagine how historic sites engage the public. Fellows undertake paid summer internships at historic sites across Virginia, develop public programming, and receive ongoing support for research and community engagement. 
 

RAWAN ELNATOUR (MARH '28)

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Pursuing graduate study in architectural history as way to bridge scholarship and public engagement, Rawan Elnatour is eager to "uncover the stories that buildings quietly hold to ensure they are meaningfully shared." She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute in 2017 where she also had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, a seminal experience in her undergraduate education.

After graduation, Elnatour deepened her professional practice experiences through positions at Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), SJR Group, and Elmo Studios. At DS+R, she worked on the Al Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women in Qatar, for which she researched cultural and religious dimensions of mosque architecture. "[This] project resonated with my memories of attending women's halaqas with my mother in New York, informal and often crowded spaces that nonetheless fostered a strong sense of community." 

Reflecting on joining UVA as a Public History Fellow, Elnatour shared that she is drawn to the opportunity to research Muslim spaces in Virginia, including early mosques and informal prayer sites, while helping to interpret these histories for a broader public. "I hope to study buildings as layered records of encounter rather than isolated objects. UVA's emphasis on critical historical inquiry and public engagement will allow me to develop rigorous research while learning how to communicate complex histories."


JILLIAN LUNOE (MARH '28)

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With a strong foundation in both urban planning and literature, Jillian Lunoe brings an interdisciplinary lens to architectural history. A 2022 graduate of Bryn Mawr College, she earned a Bachelor of Art with a double major in Growth and Structure of Cities and Comparative Literature, along with a minor in Japanese. As an undergraduate, her capstone research explored the value of historic preservation in small towns, using Perkasie, a historic borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, as a case study. Lunoe's thesis drew from her experiences working as an intern with the Perkasie Historical Society, where she "became intimately aware of the important role historical societies hold in their communities, creating a personal bridge between residents and the past." This opportunity also sparked her interest in historic preservation and her decision to pursue her graduate studies in architectural history.

For the past four years, Lunoe has been living in rural Japan, where she observed the loss of buildings and cultural practices with population decline and increased migration to cities. "I am concerned by the disappearance of [rural] spaces and stories, and believe that preservation efforts can help protect them. I have witnessed the impacts of over-tourism, under-tourism, and depopulation [in rural Japan], all topics I want to further explore."

As a Public History Fellow, Lunoe is looking forward to studying architectural history in an international context. She also looks forward to further developing her skills in establishing strong bonds with community members through working with organizations that promote the sharing of public history. “The fellowship program is an invaluable experience, as I intend to make the work of elevating overlooked stories and connecting people with history into my career.”

FOUNDATION BOARD FELLOW

The School of Architecture Foundation Board of Trustees Graduate Fellowship provides financial support for one or more incoming graduate student(s) who have proven outstanding academic performance and demonstrate the potential to be leaders in their fields. Fellows are also selected for their potential to contribute to the University of Virginia, the School of Architecture academic community, and the expanded community of professionals within the built environment fields. 

DANIELLA SHEAR (M.ARCH + MLA '30)

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Named a Foundation Board Fellow, Daniella Shear begins her graduate studies at UVA with a strong foundation in interdisciplinary studies through her liberal arts background. She earned a BA in Architecture from Yale University in 2024, where her courses in subjects such as philosophy, history, literature, environmental science, and psychology exposed her to the diverse and rich contexts that influence the field of architecture. "I have long been confident in my desire to go into architecture as a career," said Shear. "[My interdisciplinary background has] made me a better designer [and] given me more knowledge and modes of thinking about the increasingly complex world that we design in and for."

Shear's research pursuits have included the project "Adobe: A Cultural and Political History in the American Southwest," a study of the history and politics of earth construction in Texas and New Mexico, funded by the Harvey Geiger and the Saybrook College Richter Fellowships. This interest in sustainable material construction led to attending BASEhabitat's International Summer School in Austria where Shear gained hands-on construction experience with rammed earth, straw bale building, and thatch. Additionally, Shear lived and worked at Zumwalt Acres, a regenerative farm in Illinois; and served as a fellow with Landforce, a workforce development nonprofit in Pittsburgh, that operates an urban sawmill. Landforce's mission is to combine environmental sustainability and social sustainability by working with homeowners, utility companies, and work crews to preserve felled or fallen trees for reuse in construction.

Collectively, her many experiences and design research interests have led Shear to pursue a combination degree at UVA in architecture and landscape architecture. "Through research and design work, I hope to explore relationships between land, materials, buildings, and urban space," described Shear, when asked about her advanced studies. "I am especially interested in the systems of the material economy and how those systems can be redesigned for sustainable development."

ACCESS FELLOW

First awarded in 2024, the Access Fellowship for Universal Design is awarded to a student who demonstrates leadership and research interest in universal design. Established in memory of Ronald and Dorie Van Vactor, the award recognizes an incoming graduate student who is committed to making the built and natural environments accessible to all people, including those with physical disabilities. 

GRACE LITTLER (M.ARCH '28)

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Access Fellow Grace Littler comes to the UVA School of Architecture having received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2026, where she was the recipient of numerous awards, including the President's Undergraduate Research Award, the Stamps President's Scholarship, and the Sergeant Gary F. Beringause Friend of the Student Award. In 2024, Littler was invited to speak at the Equity in Architecture Forum, where she presented "The State of Disability in Architectural Education and Practice."

As an undergraduate architecture student, the social experience of disability drove Littler's design work. "While pursuing [my degree] I have built a strong foundation in evidence-based design that prepares me to create environments promoting socio-spatial equity." Examples of past projects that have shaped her commitment to accessible design include a 2022 evidence-based design project that was informed by interviews with blind Atlanta residents; a disability-focused post-occupancy evaluation of Emory Hospital's Cognitive Empowerment Center; the Smart Home for Stroke Survivors project, developed with the Shepherd Center, that supports hospital-to-home transition.

Funded by a President's Undergraduate Research Award, Littler developed a GIS mapping platform for disabled navigation on Georgia Tech's campus as an independent researcher with the Center for Spatial Planning Analytics and Visualization. "Arising from interviews with disabled students and my own experiences, these interactive maps center new understandings of accessibility, where social interaction is focal," shared Littler. "The built environment is where our social lives happen, and architects are entrusted with the cultivation of both. Where the built environment excludes, it is our duty to design for social inclusion. As [I pursue my career as an] architect, [my goal is to] bring disabled perspective to design."

SPENCER-HORSLEY SCHOLAR

The Audrey Spencer-Horsley Scholarship was established in 2020 in support of the School of Architecture’s commitment to expanding access to education and professional development, and ensuring that the learning and working environments we shape are inclusive in serving all people. The scholarship is named in honor of Audrey Spencer-Horsley, the first African American female to graduate from the UVA School of Architecture in 1975 with a Bachelor of City Planning.

DUKE DIEUGENIO (MUEP '28)

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Duke DiEugenio joins the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning program at UVA with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Brown University where he received the Justin Casserly Leadership Award. Following his undergraduate studies and early professional experiences in construction and design, DiEugenio moved to Atlanta to lead a major mixed-use revitalization effort where he focused on community engagement to help build city officials' and residents' trust through listening sessions—ultimately successfully developing dozens of attainably-priced homes. 

As a real estate developer and designer for Culdesac, he led community engagement for a 20-acre adaptive reuse public-private partnership development project; led title, zoning and property condition yielding over $70 million in transactions; and led planning work to entitle over 2,500 housing units. Additionally, he was awarded $2 million in grant funding from the City of Atlanta for transit-oriented, affordable development. DiEugenio was also the land use Chair and Treasurer of his neighborhood association in Atlanta, helping to substantially overhaul their fundraising and budget systems. 

Through multiple designer residencies, DiEugenio collaborated with a cohort of international artists to create climate-focused interdisciplinary work in Chile and co-led design build projects on the rural cooperative, Art Farm, in Nebraska. At UVA and as a Spencer-Horsley Fellow, DiEugenio "seeks to expand my work's scope to support larger-scale housing and community-oriented projects that benefit greater numbers of people. Ms. Spencer-Horsley's commitment to translating planning expertise into tangible outcomes, from administering millions in housing funds to leading community-based services...reflects the same vision that drives [my work]."

HISTORIC PRESERVATION SCHOLARS

The Historic Preservation Scholarships, including the J.L. and J.J. Kelly Scholarship and the Peter R. Kutscha Endowed Memorial Scholarship, provide financial support for graduate students pursuing the School of Architecture's Historic Preservation Certificate. Open to all master’s level students across the School’s disciplines, the scholarships honor students committed to the thoughtful preservation and adaptive reuse of historic structures and landscapes.

AMARA BLAND-HAYNES (M.ARCH '29), KUTSCHA SCHOLAR

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An aspiring neuro-architect, Amara Bland-Haynes joins the School of Architecture with a B.A. in Neuroscience and a minor in Art and Art History from The College of William and Mary where she graduated in 2023. She also received a specialized Master's in Neuroscience Applied to Architecture and Design (NAAD) through an international post-graduate course culminating in thesis research and a professional internship at the Universita IUAV di Venezia in Italy. As part of this unique educational opportunity, she presented her thesis research titled "Architectural Design for Dementia Care Facilities" at the 2025 Venice Biennale and founded the initiative "Built by the L.A.B. — Lessons about the Brain" to continue the NAAD mission. Through her internship with Park Associati in Milan, she further studied how to integrate NAAD principles into the design process, including for the design of a multi-sensory museum in Helsinki. 

Bland-Haynes' interest in historic preservation comes from her upbringing, growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia where she learned "that historic preservation is not simply about protecting old buildings, but it is about shaping how history is understood, remembered, and carried forward. Living and working in this historically significant town have helped me value preservation as a means of safeguarding history while actively constructing narrative."

Since 2024, Bland-Haynes has been part of the Hopke & Harrison Architects team based in Williamsburg where she prepares design graphics that demonstrate how new projects align with the City of Williamsburg's historic character, while ensuring that new interventions remain respectful of their contexts. This ongoing work expands her knowledge and skills related to preservation practice including data gathering, construction administration, field surveys, and the documentation of existing conditions. Bland-Haynes said, "This experience reinforces my belief that preservation is an active, ethical responsibility—one that balances integrity, accuracy, and evolution. My goal in pursuing historic preservation is to help protect the physical record of our past while expanding the narratives it tells, ensuring that preserved environments inform a more inclusive and honest future."

CRISSA THOMASON (M.ARCH '28), KUTSCHA SCHOLAR

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Entering the Master of Architecture program with a BA in Architecture from Clemson University, Crissa Thomason brings a unique perspective that blends design with cultural and historical analysis. She describes, "Growing up in the South surrounded by historic buildings and studying abroad in Italy for a semester has instilled in me an appreciation for restoration." 

Thomason’s reflections on preservation reveal a humanistic approach that draws from her personal experiences. Through a recent internship with Garvin Design Group, Thomason had the opportunity to work on the restoration of the historic Hotel Aiken building that was originally built in 1898 and has long served as a landmark in downtown Aiken, South Carolina. "Being involved in this restoration was special for me, as this hotel is near my hometown and I have always admired its [historic beauty] and wanted to see it brought back to life." 

Thomason also recognizes the complexities of historic preservation as a stimulating aspect of design. "With restoration, there are also unique challenges that I find to be as exciting as they are demanding. Working within the confines of an existing shell to imbue it with new use can be just as rewarding as beginning a project from an empty slate." Studying in Genoa, Italy, at the Charles E. Daniel Center for Building Research and Urban Studies, Thomason experienced firsthand the rich integration of architectural history and contemporary design as she explored the nuanced layers of history alongside current revitalization projects. "Studying historic preservation is an aspiration I have had [for a long time] and it is around that which I hope to center my career in architecture."

We also congratulate returning School of Architecture students Devlin Patton (MArch ’27) who was named a Kelly Scholar in Historic Preservation and Eleanor Reagan (MArch ’27) and Sam Wilson Hoff (MArch ’27) who were also awarded the Kutscha Scholarship in Historic Preservation. Their continued dedication to preservation and public history underscores the School’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of thoughtful, engaged scholars and practitioners.