Genell Wells Ebbini

Genell Wells Ebbini serves as Assistant Professor of Interior Design at Purdue University's Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance, where she joined in 2022. Her expertise spans sustainable design, biophilic principles, and systems thinking with global applications in the built environment.

Education:

• Master of Design Studies Sustainable Design, Boston Architectural College
• Bachelor of Interior Design, University of Arkansas (Summa Cum Laude)

Dr. Ebbini's research investigates regenerative design frameworks that connect human activities with environmental consequences and societal well-being. She pioneers communication methodologies to shift professional mindsets toward holistic systems thinking, bridging academic theory with real-world practice through interdisciplinary collaborations across design professions and academic disciplines. Her work critically examines cultural contexts in sustainability implementation, particularly in Middle Eastern built environments.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant themes in biophilic healthcare design, LEED certification efficacy in global contexts (especially Jordan), and sustainability pedagogy innovations. Her scholarship consistently integrates indoor environmental quality with social equity considerations, demonstrating how biophilic principles enhance occupant well-being across hospitality, educational, and residential settings while addressing regional climate challenges.

Awards:

• Women in Sustainability Leadership Award (2019) - Recognized among top global women trailblazers in sustainable built environments
• Charlotte Zietlow Endowment for Women Faculty Research Grant Award (2021) - Supporting longitudinal study of LEED-certified buildings in Jordan

Dr. Ebbini has secured significant research funding including McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowments for Jordan-based sustainable housing studies and biophilic design projects, plus University Research Committee grants for post-occupancy evaluations. With over twenty years of global practice experience and a decade teaching in CIDA-accredited programs, she mentors future sustainability leaders through industry-academia partnerships and curriculum innovations that prepare students for professional certification and leadership roles.

Her research extends through international collaborations including the University of Minnesota's Biophilic Net-Positive Design Project and contributions to International WELL Building Institute standards, building on her foundation as founder of a global sustainable design consultancy established in 2006.