Laura Cole, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor in the Interior Architecture and Design Program at Colorado State University. Before completing her Ph.D., Laura worked as a professional, NCIDQ-certified interior designer for the world-class architectural firm Perkins+Will in the Chicago office. There, she worked on various commercial design projects in the workplace and hospitality sectors, including numerous LEED projects. Her combined Ph.D. at the University of Michigan was in Architecture and the Natural Resources & Environment. Her current research focuses on the social dimensions of green buildings, focusing on how sustainable design can be environmentally educational for the public. She examines how school and museums buildings can be stages for formal and informal STEM education. Her interdisciplinary work has been published in notable peer-reviewed journals such as Environment & Behavior, The Journal of Interior Design, The International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Environmental Education Review. She is a member of, and presents regularly at the annual conferences for, the Interior Design Educator’s Council and the Environmental Design Research Association. She has developed and taught a range of courses at the undergraduate level including interior design studios, design business practices, architectural programming, and sustainable design.
