WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S IIDA Carolinas EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Interior Design, Alex Poorman, has received the Carolinas Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) 2019 Educator of the Year award again (after also receiving the award in 2017). Poorman, who has taught the Department of Applied Design’s Interior Design Program for 12 years, also oversees the program’s internship placements.
The Educator of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding accomplishments and commitment to interior design education by a full-time educator. According to Applied Design Department Chair Brian Davies, Poorman’s professional experience in education, healthcare, retail and workplace environments enables him to expose young designers to a range of opportunities in the discipline.
“Professionalism is at the core of Alex’s pedagogy, whether preparing students for professional practice or coaching their individual development,” he said.
Poorman also acts as a mentor to students throughout the duration of Appalachian’s demanding interior design program, advising individuals just out of high school, guiding groups of juniors on industry outings and being available at all hours to support seniors as they complete their capstone projects.
“We don’t know what the future will demand of our design students and it’s hard to teach about the unknown,” said Poorman. “In spite of this, our job today is to train and inspire, to expose and to allow exploration.”
Alex Poorman, 2019 IIDA Carolinas Educator of the Year
Alex Poorman, 2019 IIDA Carolinas Educator of the Year