Rula Awwad-Rafferty

Rula Awwad-Rafferty is the Chair of the Department of Design and Environments and a Professor at the University of Idaho's College of Art and Architecture. She holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies (Architecture, Political Science, Anthropology, Interior Design) from Washington University (1995), an MArch in Vernacular Architecture from the University of Idaho (1990), and a BArch from Yarmouk University (1985).

Her research focuses on cultural and spatial agency, universal design, community-based design, and participatory/emancipatory approaches to understanding place, identity, and community narratives. She teaches design studios and theory courses, including Interior Design VI, Universal Design, and Landscape Architecture. As a UI Service Learning Fellow and Environmental Science core faculty, she emphasizes outreach, pedagogy, and interdisciplinary collaboration across disciplines like environmental science and social sciences.

Rula actively serves on university committees, including the President's Diversity Council, and leads initiatives addressing equity and campus culture. Her professional affiliations include the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and the Interior Design Educators Council.