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The Daily Hub

A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute

  • Suzanne Vanderbilt, BID ‘55, was featured for her design work at GM. “Suzanne was inspired by an instructor at Pratt Institute to pursue automotive design,” writes Jonathan Lopez. “She became one of the so-called Damsels of Design, working alongside several other women to create a variety of iconic pieces of GM design work.” 

  • Marilyn Nance, BFA Communications Design (Graphic Design) ’76, headlined “The Fabric of Courage,” a multidisciplinary arts exhibition that celebrated the historic Festival of Arts and Culture, or FESTAC ’77. “While serving as the photographer for the US contingent of the North American delegation, Nance documented more than 1,500 images, which has become one of the most comprehensive photographic accounts of FESTAC 77.” 

  • Preservation manager at the Weeksville Heritage Center, Zulmilena Then, BArch ’09, was interviewed for Black Enterprise about Brooklyn’s Weeksville houses. “Growing up in Brooklyn, I didn’t know about Weeksville until I was an adult,” Then said. “These buildings are an anchor to our people and connection to … our past. [They] add to the pride that one feels about the neighborhood itself.”

  • Sylvia Morse, senior program manager for research and policy, has been awarded the prestigious Global Exchange Fellowship with Urban Design Forum. The group of housing policy researchers, tenant advocates, architects, and other experts will explore what lessons NYC can learn from across the world to tackle our housing crisis. 

  • Joan Semmel, BFA Art Teacher Education ’63; MFA ’72, was interviewed for Apollo Magazine’s “In the studio with…” series. “I don’t have a schedule,” said Semmel, “that’s one of the nice things about being an artist—so if I don’t feel like working, I don’t. But most of the time I do.” Semmel was also featured in Martin CID Magazine.

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