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© 2026 Interior Design Educators Council
Description
Fellow status is an award designed to honor an IDEC educator who has made outstanding contributions to IDEC. The intent is to recognize an IDEC educator who has demonstrated 1) sustained and significant participation in the organization via its many leadership/service opportunities, and 2) ongoing and valuable contributions to interior design education (such as the advancement of the body of knowledge) advocacy of interior design and/or education, or the advancement and/or development of any organizations that support interior design education (e.g., CIDA, CIDQ). Deliberation of these criteria for elevation to Fellow must be considered, but they need not be equal in magnitude.
Any member of IDEC may nominate an IDEC educator for Fellow status in IDEC. In any given year, one or several fellowships can be awarded, as well as no fellowship.
Phase 1 Deadline for Submissions: October 1 at 11:59 PM PT
Please contact Susan Ray-Degges (susan.raydegges@ndsu.edu) or Caren Martin (cmartin@umn.edu) with questions.
We look forward to your nominations and celebrating the excellence of members across the organization.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Phase 1
Any IDEC member may initiate the Fellow nomination process. This is a confidential process, and the nominees should not be informed that they are being considered for Fellow. The first step is to complete the Phase 1 electronic form identifying the nominee, a brief statement of why the individual should be considered for Fellow, and the nominee’s vita.
Phase 1 materials will be submitted to the chair of the Council of Fellows (COF) who will review the nominees and then select a committee of five IDEC Fellows with no conflicts of interest who will form the Fellows Review Committee (FRC).
The FRC is a subcommittee ideally comprised of one Fellow member from each of the five (5) IDEC regions and diversified by institution type, length of time as Fellow, and experience. A minimum of three (3) Fellows are required to execute the FRC tasks and functions. The FRC must operate independently and confidentially of the COF’s chair and vice-chair and IDEC leadership in its deliberations and recommendations. The FRC will determine if the nominee(s) should be moved forward in the process. All discussions are confidential. The nominator will be notified as to whether the nominee will move forward to Phase 2.
Phase 2
Once the FRC determines a nominee is ready to move to Phase 2, the nominator is responsible for:
- Submitting an official letter of nomination including a summary of the nominee’s accomplishments;
- Resubmitting the nominee’s vita if there are any additions needed to the document including new books, awards, etc., and
- Securing two additional letters of support from IDEC members.
If a Fellow writes a letter of support prior to the formation of the FRC, then the Fellow is ineligible to serve on the FRC, but they can cast a vote once the final list of applicants has been selected. If a Fellow serving on the FRC is asked to write a letter of support, that FRC Fellow must decline to write a letter of support.
DEADLINES
Phase 1: Complete the Electronic Nomination Form by October 1.
Notification of applicants moving forward by November 1
Phase 2: Submissions are due December 1.
Voting will end on or about December 24
EVALUATION
All completed Phase 2 submissions that meet the deadline will be made available to all members of the Council of Fellows for review. All Fellows will have an opportunity to cast their votes through an online system.
Those who are elected into the Council of Fellows are recognized at the Annual Conference Awards Ceremony.
Fellow Nomination: Phase 1
Utilize this form for the Phase I Nomination for Fellow Status in IDEC. Submit Phase 1 no later than October 15.
Thank you to IDEC’s 2026 Sponsors and Partners
