Karen Spence

Karen Spence serves as Director and F.L. Crane Endowed Professor at Mississippi State University's College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), holding professional architecture licenses in Maryland and Missouri alongside LEED AP certification. Her work centers on architectural education and community engagement, emphasizing architecture's role in addressing global challenges through student empowerment and community partnerships.

Her academic credentials include:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture from Texas A&M University (1996)
• Master of Science in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati (1993)
• Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas (1987)

Dr. Spence's research integrates Design Thinking, Phenomenology, and Sustainability with Architecture Theory, exploring philosophical foundations through Heideggerian frameworks while addressing contemporary issues like climate change and social justice. She investigates how architectural pedagogy can develop student agency and foster community dialogue, bridging theoretical inquiry with practical applications in environmental stewardship and value-driven design.

Her publication trajectory demonstrates evolving scholarly focus from 1990s examinations of Critical Regionalism and Heidegger's influence on architects like E. Fay Jones toward current investigations of architectural knowledge production, design student resource development, and community-centered responses to global warming. Recent works emphasize the academy's facilitative role in remaking architectural knowledge and creating actionable community dialogues around sustainability.

Dr. Spence actively contributes to Mississippi State's research infrastructure through associations with the Fred Carl, Jr. Small Town Center and Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, extending CAAD's mission through community-engaged design-build projects and regional outreach initiatives that connect academic work with real-world community needs.