APLA Alum and Faculty Named President-Elect of NAAB

Rebecca O’Neal, associate professor of architecture/interior architecture and APLA alumna, has been named President-Elect of the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB).  Established in 1940, NAAB’s mission is to “develop and maintain an accreditation system in professional degree education that enhances value, and effectiveness of the profession of architecture.”  As part of the accreditation process, NAAB organizes peer review teams for site visits where they review and report on participating programs. O’Neal has previously collaborated with NAAB as member of an accreditation review team comprised of educators, practitioners, regulators, and students.

O’Neal has served on the APLA faculty since 1999. Her qualifications for the position at NAAB include her previous experience as associate dean for research and academic affairs at Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction, chair of the interior architecture program and interim chair of the environmental design program.  She is currently the APLA representative on the Auburn University Senate. Vini Nathan, Dean, CADC states that “I am confident that Prof. Rebecca O’Neal’s leadership will have significant and positive impact on the academic dimension of architecture, and by extension, the professional aspects of architecture. All of us at Auburn are proud to recognize O’Neal for her important new role with NAAB – not least because she is the first member of the Auburn faculty, or Auburn alum, to hold this national position.”