Lisa Waxman chair of the Department of Interior Architecture & Design, was awarded the Interior Design Educators Council’s highest lifetime achievement award, the Arnold P. Friedmann Educator of Distinction Award, on March 9th, 2019. Her sustained and impactful support of interior design education was noted through her service on multiple national committees and boards, including her presidency of IDEC through 2011-2012. She is only the 8th person in the history of the organization to be awarded this distinction.
The Educator of Distinction Award is presented to a current or former IDEC member in recognition of significant, sustained, and distinguished contributions in interior design education. Specifically, the recipient will have shown a demonstrated leadership in interior design education, made an impact on the profession (e.g. through student success, curriculum development, innovation, scholarship, etc.), as well as demonstrated excellence in teaching.
Lisa Kinch Waxman, Ph.D. is a professor and chair of the Interior Design department at Florida State University. Her research includes topics related to the design of spaces that foster community, sustainable design, and design for special populations. She is an NCIDQ certificate holder, a LEED-AP and a licensed interior designer in Florida. Dr. Waxman has served in many capacities on the board of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), including president-elect, president and past-president from 2010 until 2013. She was honored as a Fellow of IDEC in 2008. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Her teaching expertise includes environment and behavior, design issues, sustainability and studio.