Main Content

Architecture Faculty

The faculty in the School of Architecture are as diverse as the student body. Representing three continents and with more than 300 years of combined teaching experience, the faculty will teach students to think critically about the built environment and architecture.

Robert Anderson, Instructor

Architecture

Since the summer of 2000, Rob has been in the architectural practice and resides in the St. Louis Metro East area. His lecturer appointment at SIUC began in the fall of 2018. Prior to this appointment, he participated in the first cohort of the distance-based Master of Architecture program at SIUC and completed in 2014. His passion to help bridge the practice and academia began while serving in a series of leadership roles within the American Institute of Architects. Rob’s enthusiasm and involvement were instrumental in the creation of the online Master of Architecture program at SIUC.



View Full Bio

Mehdi Ashayeri, PhD, Assistant Professor

Architectural Studies

Mehdi Ashayeri is an architect, engineer, researcher, and educator. He earned his Ph.D. in Architecture, Technologies of the Built Environment, at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).



View Full Bio
Mehdi Ashayeri Faculty Photo

Quigley Hall 410
618-453-2513
Fax: 618-453-1129
mehdi.ashayeri@siu.edu

Sheila Baysinger Hensley, Associate Professor of Practice

Architecture & Interior Design

Sheila Baysinger Hensley, Principal at BHDG Architects and owner of Baysinger Design Group, guides SIU students through professional practices as they near completion of architectural and interior design degrees. In addition to her extensive design work, she also holds a Juris Doctorate from SIU School of Law.



View Full Bio
Sheila Baysinger Hensley

Quigley Hall 107
618-453-4787
slbav@siu.edu

Michael Carney, Assistant Lecturer, AIA, NCARB, ALA

Architecture

Michael has been working in the Architectural Profession for over 21 years establishing Studio Carney Architecture, Inc. in 2014



View Full Bio

Rolando Gonzalez-Torres, PhD, Director, Associate Professor

Architecture & Interior Design

Architect and educator with more than 25 years of experience of teaching on higher education centers in Mexico, Spain and the USA. He received a PhD in architecture from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Barcelona Tech); a Master of Arts in Education from Western Kentucky University; a Master of Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University; and a Bachelor of Architecture from Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, México.



View Full Bio
Rolando Gonzalez Torres

Quigley Hall 406
618-453-1982
rgonzalez@siu.edu

Qian Jenny Huang, PhD, Associate Professor

Architecture

Dr. Huang earned her law degree and bar certification in China, concentrating her master's studies on Building Construction Law, Contract and Practice. After working on several public transportation projects for the Tianjin Central Government, she moved to the United States and earned a doctorate in Building Construction Management from Purdue University (2016).



View Full Bio
Quian Huang

Quigley Hall 130A
618-453-1254
qhuang@siu.edu
Personal Website

Kirk Irwin, Instructor

Architecture

I am a licensed architect with thirty years of professional experience mostly in Chicago. During this time, I also taught part-time at schools in the Chicago area and London. I divide my time between Edinburgh, Scotland where I am completing my PhD in architectural history at the University of Edinburgh and Chicago.



View Full Bio
Kirk Irwin Faculty Photo

618-453-3734
james.irwin@siu.edu

Amos Kalua, PhD, Assistant Professor

Architecture

Dr. Amos Kalua is a Chartered Architect registered with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), a Chartered Engineer (CEng) registered with the Engineering Council in the United Kingdom (UK) and a Member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). He is also a Member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).



View Full Bio
Amos Kalua

Quigley Hall 408
618-453-1126
amos.kalua@siu.edu

Farshad Kheiri, PhD, Assistant Professor

Architecture

Farshad Kheiri, Ph.D., LEED AP BD+C, joined SIUC as an assistant professor in 2021. His research focus lies in the areas of the analysis, design, and optimization of energy-efficient buildings, performance-driven generative building design, building environmental systems, and building automation systems and controls.



View Full Bio
Farshad Kheiri

Quigley Hall 407
618-453-1127
farshad.kheiri@siu.edu

Christopher Post, Assistant Instructor

Architecture

Christopher Post, LEED AP, CHC, Illinois Licensed Architect; Senior Construction Manager, Southern Illinois Healthcare; Instructor of Construction Management courses.



View Full Bio

Peter Smith, Associate Professor

Architecture & Interior Design

Peter Smith's dynamic freshman design projects have garnered students much praise and media attention for their innovation and style. Focusing on three-dimensional perception and shared cultural experiences, Professor Smith's design communication courses have been featured in multiple news outlets, and continue to guide new students to their own creative voices each year.



View Full Bio
Peter Smith

Phone: 618-453-1109
smithpbs@siu.edu
Office: Quigley Hall 131C

Steven Turnipseed, Senior Lecturer

Architecture & Interior Design

Steve taught Architecture and Urban Design at Ball State University, The University of Texas at Arlington, and Texas A and M University for 11 years before joining the Grand Rapids, Michigan, office of URS Corporation for 22 years. As a Senior Design Architect at URS, his facility designs included award winning schools, medical facilities and other commercial and institutional projects. Steve has been an Instructor at Southern Illinois University since 2010, where he has taught architectural design at all levels.



View Full Bio
Steven Turnipseed

Quigley Hall 401
618-453-1710
steve.turnipseed@siu.edu