Work History
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Sustainability Manager

Kingspan Group
Remote - May 2021 - Present
Summary: A member of the Planet Passionate global sustainability program - which aims at moving to a clean energy future, managing the earth’s resources more sustainably and protecting the natural environment - through:
  • Ensuring that the company sets and meets environmental goals
  • Developing green policies and initiatives that emphasize the proper use of environmental resources with a focus on sustaining these resources for future generations
  • Research, development, and implementation of policies that improve the organization’s environmental impact without detracting from other business goals
  • Ensuring adherence to all laws and industry regulations

City Commissioner

Appointed member of the Historic Landmark Commission 
Bryan, Texas, U.S., January 2022 - Present
Summary: Historic resources represent distinctive elements of the City’s and State’s architectural, cultural, social, economic, ethnic and political history. Generally but not always considered to be part of the built environment, the Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) promotes the identification, preservation, enhancement and interpretation of the City of Bryan’s historic resources. The Commission administers a portion of the Zoning Ordinance. The HLC is responsible for reviewing and taking action on proposed exterior modifications to historic landmarks (Certificates of Appropriateness), recommends inclusion/exclusion of properties as historic preservation overlay districts, and is responsible for the City’s Preservation Plan. 

Teaching

Professor/CRT Secretary/Faculty Senator - Blinn College (Architecture Program) 
Bryan, Texas, U.S., January 2019 - September 2022
Summary: 15 classes annually - FTF/blended​/fully online - class capacity: 35
Theory of architecture, architectural design and technology
Theory: Architectural History I & II, Architectural Graphics I & II, Introduction to Architecture & Sustainable Design
Studio: CAD, Sketchup, Photoshop and Kerkythea​, model making, photography and ceramics

  • Architecture professor; teaching undergraduate seminar and lecture courses in history of architecture (from ancient times to modern); sustainable and environmental design; construction science
  • Preparation of teaching materials, lesson plans, quizzes, final exams and the final project; exhibiting students’ architectural models/projects throughout the department; organizing workshops for students and members of staff (e.g. web design & portfolio preparation); collaboration with local libraries and businesses
  • QM certified online instructor; designing master courses for online education; remote teaching via D2L and Zoom
  • QM certified peer/course reviewer 
  • Member of the hiring committee; AKA faculty senator; CRT secretary  
  • Teaching Excellence Award nominee for the 2019/2020 and 2021/2022 academic year
  • TEDx Special Event speaker, 2019

Professional Development and Training - Blinn College

  • Tegrity and Turnitin Overview Workshop, February 2019
  • Addressing Accessibility Workshop, March 2019
  • Quality Matters: Improving Your Online Course Workshop (IYOC), April 2019
  • Hiring Guide Training Workshop, April 2019​
  • Protecting Youth Training (Certificate), January 2021
  • Harassment & Discrimination Prevention Training (Certificate)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Training (Certificate), January 2021
  • COVID-19 Prevention Training (Certificate), January 2021
  • Academic Advising Workshop, January 2021
  • Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR), January 2022
  • Peer Reviewer (3-weeks) Course, January 2022
Assistant Lecturer - University of Kent (Kent School of Architecture and Planning)
Canterbury, England, August 2015 - August 2016
Summary:​ 4 classes  - Class capacity: 20
History of architecture, 15th-19th century

  • Assistant lecturer; teaching undergraduate seminar courses in history of architecture 
  • Preparation of lesson plans
  • Supporting students and their learning by managing study groups of 60 architecture students; encouraging students to think critically and analytically by providing them with written feedback; encouraging students to participate in public and citywide design and construction projects
  • Assisting students with visual presentation of their artwork through digital and non-digital techniques; providing students with detailed art/architecture writing tutorials​​

Research

Architectural Historian Trainee - Kent School of Architecture and Planning
Canterbury, England, September 2014 - November 2019

  • Teaching undergraduate courses at the department of architecture
  • Performing qualitative analysis and historical research; academic publishing
  • Project planning; data collection and assessment; budgeting, preparation and submission of research grant applications
  • Actively engaging in collaborative projects with international cultural and educational institutions
  • Training and practicing academic legislation and procedures
  • International travel; participation in public and academic lectures and curatorial workshops at the British Museum in London, England

Key Skills

  • Languages
  • Public engagement & community outreach: public exhibitions, public lectures and interviews
  • Artistic skills: painting, sketching, model making, photography, sculpting, hand drafting, ceramics and stained glass
  • Academic experience: proficient in online learning management systems (LMS) including Moodle, Blackboard and D2L; certified online instructor and peer/course reviewer;  academic publishing, undergraduate teaching and student advising; TEFL & ESL teaching experience 
  • Museum experience: including six years of detailed research and examination of Islamic artifacts at the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum (London, England), the Louvre (Paris, France), and the Museum of Marrakesh (Marrakesh, Morocco). knowledge of staging displays and exhibitions, architectural photography, visual merchandising and displays
  • Administrative skills: research, writing, and bookkeeping in an academic setting
  • Computer skills: Salesforce, web design, Windows and Mac operating systems, MS Office Suite, Google Drive, Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, 3D MAX and SketchUp
  • Management experience:  HR and recruitment, customer service, payroll management, POS, cash handling and banking, financial planning including cost management and inventory control
  • Organizational skills: strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills; team player with a background in qualitative research and an interest in fine art practices; excellent time and project management skills

Conferences, Publications & Award Recognition

  • “A Traditional Narrative on the Origin, Design and Climatic Imperative of Colored Glass Lattice Panels and Orsi Windows in Persia” - Historic Building Services in Education, Practice and Research - A symposium, July 2018, England
  • “Safavid Colored Glass Windows of Persia” - The Iran Society, September 2017, England“Orsi, Colored Windows of Iran” - 8th Dresden International Doctoral Colloquium: Aesthetics in Architecture and Urban Design, June 2016, Germany
  • “Design, Origin and Climatic Effects of Orsi in the Architecture of Iran”, Medieval and Early Modern Festival, University of Kent, June 2016, England
  • Teaching Excellence Award nominee for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic year

Pending Publications
  • Western Travelers’ Accounts of Persian Colored Glass Lattice Panels and Orsi Windows
  • Western Travelers’ Accounts of Construction Materials in Safavid Persia
  • The Climatic Profile of Safavid Persia According to the Western Travelers
  • The Development of the Persian Windows during the Reign of the Safavid Dynasty
  • On the Origins of Architectural Glass and Colored Glass in Safavid Persia
  • Armenian Patronage and the Development of Colored Glass Lattice Panels and Orsi Windows in Safavid Persia  
TEDx Special Event Speaker, Blinn College
Bryan campus, Texas, May 2019
Topic: How understanding history can bring people together?
Abstract: Today, regardless of our geographical location, we are all affected by the shifting climate. Exploring the historical built-environment and climatic solutions of ancient cultures, could improve our understanding of the climatic adaption embraced for many centuries by such cultures. By integrating the ancient climatic-responsive architectural methods to our modern culture, we could potentially improve our chance of survival in the wake of climate related disasters. Traveling, reading and visiting museums, can help us become more aware, educated and therefore understanding of other cultures and their history which included sustainable methods of architectural design and construction.

Peer Review Activity

Design Experience

Art Installations

Please follow this link!

Exhibitions

  • Starbucks Avant-Garde Group Exhibition: Moscone Center, 2006 - Paintings
  • Academy of Art University: French Rabbit IAD Group Exhibition, San Francisco, 2006 - Sculpture
  • Chelsea College of Art & Design: Interim Show, Chelsea College, London, 2013 - Acrylic Installation
  • Chelsea College of Art & Design: Graduation Show, Chelsea College, London, 2013 - Stained glass sculpture

Business Sales & Management

7 years of experience in retail sales and management for several fortune 500 companies including Macy's, Starbucks, Bloomingdale’s, Peet's and Crate and Barrel; employee of the year at Peet's Coffee in 2009

  • Waterford Crystal Sales Specialist, Bloomingdale's, Stanford, Palo Alto, CA, 2014
  • Store Manager, The Body Shop, Central London, 2011
  • Floor Manager, Crate & Barrel Co. San Francisco, CA, 2007
  • Assistant Store Manager, Starbucks Co, San Francisco, CA, 2006
  • Shift Supervisor, Peet's Coffee Company, San Francisco, CA, 2005
  • Assistant Store Manager, Clock Tower Co, Mountain View, CA, 2004
  • Ralph Lauren Sales Specialist & Design Consultant, Macy's, Palo Alto, CA, 2002

Duties included:
  • HR, customer service, payroll management, POS, cash handling, banking, financial planning (including cost management and inventory control)
  • Strategic planning including assisting sales associates in achieving their daily sales goals; creating new sales opportunities by forecasting, planning and managing the store budget on a quarterly basis resulting in high bonuses; drafting contracts; recruiting, training and promoting staff 
  • Visual merchandising; brand and stock management