WSU News Archive

SPOKANE, Wash. -- JoAnn Thompson, associate dean and professor of interior design at Washington State University Spokane, was recently awarded the International Interior Design Association's 4th annual Michael Tatum Educator of the Year Award.

The International Interior Design Association presents the award in recognition of excellence in education, leadership, and involvement. In awarding it to Thompson, the organization cited her international reputation as a visionary interior design educator and scholar, her advocacy of design education and research, and her involvement in the creation of the Interdisciplinary Design Institute at WSU Spokane.

Thompson’s leadership in design education includes service as president and chairman of the board of the Interior Design Educators Council and member of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Evaluation Committee. She is on the publication and editorial review boards of The Journal of Interior Design, and has served on several committees of the Foundation for Interior Design Education accreditation agency. Thompson has been named a Fellow of both the Interior Design Educators Council and the International Interior Design Association.

Thompson, who has been with WSU since 1985, has served in various leadership roles, including chair of the department of apparel, merchandising, and interior design, vice provost, and currently associate dean at WSU Spokane.

She has instructed students at WSU Pullman and WSU Spokane at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level and continues to be actively involved in the evolution of interior design education through her participation in national and international committees and forums. WSU’s interior design program is the only FIDER-accredited program in the state of Washington and was named one of the top 10 in the country by the IIDA in 1997.

The IIDA is a professional association of more than 10,000 members committed to enhancing the quality of life through excellence in interior design and advancing interior design through knowledge. Teknion, LLC sponsors the Tatum award.

International Interior Design Association: www.iida.org
Interdisciplinary Design Institute: www.idi.spokane.wsu.edu
WSU Spokane: www.spokane.wsu.edu
Graduate program in interior design: www.interiordesign.spokane.wsu.edu
Undergraduate program in interior design at WSU Spokane: www.BAinteriordesign.spokane.wsu.edu