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Interior Design

Betty Torrell, RA, AIA, ASID, IDEC, NCIDQ, LEED AP

Associate Professor, Interior Design

Office: CBEIS 221
Phone: 443-885-2270
betty.torrell@morgan.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Education:

B.F.A., University of Washington
M.Arch, University of Washington
Media:

Biography:

Betty Torrell was born and raised in rural Washington State where she attended the University of Washington (UW) receiving BFA in Interior Design and an M. Arch. degrees, and where she participated in the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning's foreign study programs, "Architecture in Rome" and "Italian Hilltowns." Torrell practiced interior design and architecture in Seattle and Friday Harbor, Washington culminating with practicing as the founding principal of Torrell Architects where the firm specialized in residential architecture. Torrell made a lateral shift to Academia ten years ago where her research interests focuses on pedagogy for design education and placemaking of interior spaces.

List of Professional Affiliation(s):
  • American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
  • Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC)
  • AIA Architecture 2030 Challenge - Adoptee
  • American Association for Italian Studies (AAIS)
  • American Society of Environmental History (ASEH)
  • Construction History Society of America (CHSA)
  • European Architectural History Network (EAHN)
  • International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments
  • (IASTE) League for Innovation in the Community College (LICC)
  • Northwest Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in Italy (NIAUSI) - Founding Member
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) Society of Architectural Historians
  • (SAH) Historic Interiors Affiliate Group (HIG)
  • Women in Architecture Affiliate Group (WiA)
  • Vernacular Architecture Forum (VAF)
List of Research Interest(s):
  • The Pedagogy of Disability Justice
  • The Pedagogy of Design Education focusing on Diversity Outreach and Support in International Education
  • Peer-to-Peer Student Assessment in the Interior Design Classroom and Studio
  • The History/Theory of Placemaking and Well-Being in Interior Spaces focusing on the Role of the Hearth in Domestic Architecture
List of Classes Taught: 
  • INTD 212 - Topics in Non-Western Art and Design
  • INTD 301- Interior Design Studio II
  • INTD 402 - Advanced Interior Design II
  • INTD 441 - Special Topics in Interior Design

List of Selected Publication(s)

  • “The CritBurger: A Method of Peer-to-Peer Assessment in a Design Drawing Course,” the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) 2022 Virtual Annual Conference in the Scholarship Category: Scholarship of ‎Teaching and Learning with the Content Area: Pedagogy on March 2 – 5, 2022.
  • “JustCheckin’In: A LIVE Student Checklist for the Study Abroad Process – Creating a System of Student Support,” NAFSA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo Virtual Program Session: Increasing Diversity Outreach and Support in International Education on May 4 - May 5, 2022.
  • “RESILIENCE REDUX: Astra Zarina,” at the Women of the Mediterranean: Women and Resilience Virtual Conference hosted by The Sant’Anna Institute and College of the Holy Cross on June 12th - 13th, 2021.
  • “Every Moment a Lesson – The Didactic approach of Professor Astra Zarina” at the Symposium, "AZ – The Italian Legacy of Astra Zarina" organized by Professor Giovanni Attili, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy and sponsored by the Commune of Bagnoregio, Italy in April of 2019.
  • “Studio Sorrento 2018 @ Sant’Anna Institute -- The Grand Tour as a Model for Empirical Learning,” American Association of Italian Studies 2019 Annual Conference -- Public Spaces/Private Spaces in Contemporary Italy, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
List of Grants and/or Award(s):
  • American Society of Interior Design (ASID)
  • "Ones to Watch" Award in Education Leadership
  • Western Carolina University (WCU) Center For Service Learning Awards: "Outstanding Faculty Participation in Community Service Projects" & "Demonstrated Excellence in Using Service Learning as a Teaching and Learning Strategy,"
  • The Northwest Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in Italy (NIAUSI) Residency supported by the American Institute of Architects/American Architectural Foundation (AIA/AAF) Fellowship for Advanced Study or Research & The Raynier Foundation, ASID Award of Excellence: Gold Awards-Washington State Chapter
  • University of Washington Master of Architecture "Thesis of the Year" Award supported by a grant from The Swedish Institute (https://si.se/en/)