Wendy Ornelas

Wendy Ornelas is a Professor in the Department of Architecture within the College of Architecture, Planning and Design at Kansas State University, where she has been a faculty member since 1989. She teaches graduate-level Professional Practice courses and architectural design studios, contributing significantly to architectural education and interdisciplinary research in environmental design and planning.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a master's degree from Oklahoma State University. These foundational experiences have shaped her career in academia and professional leadership.

Ornelas’s research and professional interests center on architectural education, professional practice, diversity and inclusion in architecture, and accreditation systems. She has pioneered initiatives to support emerging architects and promote equity in the profession, with a strong emphasis on pedagogy and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Her leadership extends into national and international accreditation efforts, particularly through her extensive work with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), where she served as president from 2009 to 2010. She has participated in numerous accreditation visits across the U.S., Canada, and internationally.

• ACSA/AIAS New Faculty Teaching Award
• AIA Kansas Henry W. Schirmer Distinguished Service Award
• AIA Richard Upjohn Fellowship
• Distinguished Professor, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (2013)
• Elevated to American Institute of Architects' College of Fellows (FAIA, 2005)

Wendy Ornelas has held significant advisory and leadership roles, including faculty advisor for Women in Design and AIAS chapters at Kansas State, academic advisor for the Emerging Professionals Committee, and board liaison to the Young Architects Forum. She was instrumental in launching leadership programs for young architects and served as co-chair of AIA National's Diversity and Inclusion Council from 2012 to 2014. She also served as Central States Regional Director for the American Institute of Architects and as past-president of AIA Kansas.

She is actively involved in shaping architectural policy and standards, serving on the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions as one of three architecture representatives. Her work in accreditation, education, and professional development continues to influence both academic and practice realms of architecture.