James Rush is a senior majoring in Architectural Studies. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, he grew up being fascinated with the city's unique landform dictated built environment which directed his decision to attend the University of Pittsburgh. He is expected to graduate in the spring of 2016.
Blair Wegescheide is a senior Architectural Studies and Urban Studies major, with a minor in History. She is originally from New York, where she became interested in the diverse interactions within the urban environment and the established structures of the city that shape peoples’ perception of their surroundings. Blair has previously researched the adaptive reuse of abandoned underground Tube stations in London this past summer and is currently researching cultural conservation and historic preservat
Anika Shah is a sophomore Architectural Studies major graduating in Spring 2018. She is also pursing a double minor in Studio Arts and Sociology. At first she was unsure which educational path to take, but architecture has shown itself to be the perfect fit thus far.
Aby Sobotka-Briner is a junior Architectural Studies and Studio Arts double major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Over the next year, Aby plans on thoroughly exploring all that the Architecture department has to offer through internships and leadership positions. She plans on studying abroad this summer through the Architectural Studies in Central Europe program. In her spare time, Aby works for The Pitt News as a staff illustrator and volunteers as a designer for WPTS radio station.
Sean O’Connor is a double-major Urban and Architectural Studies major with a minor in Studio Arts expecting a degree in 2017. His initial interest in architecture began to blend with Urban Planning theory when exposed to the changing built environment of his hometown, Pittsburgh. Sean has been involved in multiple sustainability groups at Pitt, including the Give a Thread campaign, Pitt Environmental Action Coalition, and he was president of Students for Sustainability.
A Pittsburgh native, Bridgette received her Associates in Architecture from Valencia College in the spring of 2015. She is majoring in Architectural Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and expects to graduate in Spring 2017. Bridgette has always been interested in the fields of art and design and found her niche when taking design classes at Valencia. With a great concern for the environment, she began to do independent research on sustainable design.
Colin van ‘t Veld is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Architectural Studies with a minor in Studio Arts. He is from Laramie, Wyoming and came to Pittsburgh to gain a new perspective as he pursues higher education.He loves to travel, and took an architectural studio course in the summer of 2015 studying abroad in Copenhagen. He hopes to complete an architectural internship this summer, and eventually become a licensed architect after he graduates in the spring of 2017.
Justin Shaffer is currently a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Architectural Studies. Justin took drafting as well as computer drawing courses in high school where he found a keen interest in architectural design.
Mariah Flanagan is a junior anthropology major pursuing minors in museum studies and American history as well as a certificate in American Sign Language. In the past, Mariah has researched at the Pitt Center for Learning in Out of School Environments as well as under Dr. Gretchen Bender within the HAA department.
Caroline Fazzini is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing degrees in the History of Art and Architecture and Studio Arts along with a minor in Museum Studies. During the Fall 2015 semester she served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for Intro to Modern Art. This semester she has been awarded a funded fellowship and is currently working on a research project with the help of a graduate mentor that focuses on the role of narcissism in the work of artist Hannah Wilke.
