(IN)TANGIBLE HERITAGE(S)

Eric Harris, Associate AIA, AIAS, NOMA: An advocate for value-inclusive design practices, Eric Harris is the CAUSES Aspiration Award recipient for Architecture and Urban Sustainability, the Clarence Pearson Award recipient in Recognition of Overall leadership and academic performance, and the 2020 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholar. He is also the third-place team winner of the 2021 Interschool Design Competition sponsored by NCARB and the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Eric currently works for Samaha Associates, P.C., a multi-disciplinary architecture, interior design, and planning firm. In this role, Eric serves as Project Interior Designer for a variety of clients including educational, public safety, local government, rural/industrial commissions. His involvement in the design process elevates the quality of Samaha’s facilities to exceed expectations inside and out. Eric earned his Master of Architecture from the University of the District of Columbia and a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture and Design from George Washington University. He also holds an AAS in Business Technology and a BBA in Marketing from UDC. Mr. Harris is a second-year Ph.D. student in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship at UDC in CAUSES. In addition, he is a coach/expert panelist for Wageningen University and Research’s 2022 Urban Greenhouse Challenge #3, social edition in Washington, D.C.

Anna Franz, PhD, FAIA, NAC, LEED AP: Dr. Anna Franz is the Chair of the Department of Architecture and Urban Sustainability and Director of the University of the District of Columbia’s Architecture and Community Planning Program in CAUSES. Before joining the faculty in 2020 and now as an Associate Professor of Architecture, she served in executive leadership roles as Director, Planning and Project Management, Architect of the Capitol, and Chief, Space and Facilities Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Recognized as an eminent leader in the federal government and known for excellence in architecture/preservation, engineering, and construction, she served as chair of the Construction Industry Institute and represented the Architect of the Capitol on the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Dr. Franz was awarded the Architect’s Citation in 2012 and elected to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows and the National Academy of Construction in 2018. Dr. Franz has published several scholarly papers on whole system design and planning in architecture and engineering journals. She is a registered architect in Virginia and the District of Columbia, LEED Professional, and registered nurse. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida State University, a master’s in nursing from Texas Woman’s University, a master’s in architecture/historic preservation from The University of Texas at Austin, and a doctorate in engineering management from The George Washington University.