Meet Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Mentor Professor Ashlie Latiolais
Professor Ashlie Latiolais is one of our 2021 Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Mentor Award recipients. This award is presented by the Graduate School to members of the graduate faculty with an exceptional record of fostering the academic and professional development of graduate students, particularly for graduate students in our master杏吧专区檚 degree programs. 
Latiolais is an associate professor in the School of Architecture and Design, and serves as the graduate coordinator for the master of architecture program.
杏吧专区業ndividualized, compassionate, and uncompromised杏吧专区
Kari Smith, professor and director of the School of Architecture and Design, remarks that Latiolais has 杏吧专区渃hanneled her passion for professional practice to develop an innovative and inspirational graduate student mentorship approach that is individualized, compassionate, and uncompromised.杏吧专区
In her design studios, 杏吧专区渟he has advanced the offerings of the Graduate Program through projects that contribute thousands of dollars to the community through service-learning,杏吧专区 Smith says.
Her design studios also have 杏吧专区渂oldly addressed issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, through project-based design competitions such as the National Organization for Minority Architecture Students competition for the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation in collaboration with seven environmental and housing justice organizations for the greater Bay Area,杏吧专区 Smith notes.
John Welcher 杏吧专区15 says that Latiolais 杏吧专区渂rought a motivating and eye-opening level of discourse to the classroom.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淪he constantly challenged her students to expand their worldview or change the way they were approaching a problem. This would all be laudable enough if that were the extent of her actions, but true-to-form she also holds herself to the standards she asks of her students,杏吧专区 he adds.
From Student to Professional Peer
Latiolais has chaired nineteen master杏吧专区檚 projects, and has served as a committee member for an additional twenty-one.
The master杏吧专区檚 project 杏吧专区渄emands comprehensive thinking that focuses student research and theories and challenges them to define the potential impact of architecture on the world,杏吧专区 Latiolais says.
杏吧专区淚 embrace the range of projects that students produce and support an intense variety of interests.杏吧专区
The master杏吧专区檚 project is also critical, Latiolais explains, 杏吧专区渁s a threshold, after which the student becomes a professional peer.杏吧专区
Based on their graduate work, Latiolais杏吧专区檚 students have co-authored published book chapters, participated in national research symposiums, and received honors from the School of Architecture and Design and the 杏吧专区.
杏吧专区淪he pushed me to be my very best self, she believed fiercely in my potential, and because of her great influence, I have grown into a well-rounded, passionate and confident professional,杏吧专区 says Cathryn Core 杏吧专区16.
Katie Leleaux 杏吧专区17 notes that 杏吧专区淎shlie has been a prominent model of leadership, professionalism, and ambition, and always strives to develop inspiring relationships with others"
"I would not be the person I am today if it were not for the knowledge she installed in me, her love and dedication to the profession of architecture and her motivational spirit.杏吧专区
Latiolais centers the importance of collegiality and community engagement in her mentorship of graduate students.
杏吧专区淎 student's deep understanding of what they do and why they do it is critical to my pedagogy and for the choices students make within their academic careers,杏吧专区 Latiolais says.
杏吧专区淎s an alumnus of the School of Architecture and Design, the ability to "think, act, and react," was instilled in me. This active approach is the foundation of my design process, my teaching, and mentorship.杏吧专区
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