The AAD Senior Honors Exhibition is an annual collaboration between Lehigh University Art Galleries and the Department of Art, Architecture and Design. For this exhibition, students commit to two semesters of project development, working with their faculty advisors and eventually the LUAG exhibitions and education teams. Students present descriptions of their works-in-progress and attend weekly planning workshops centered around exhibition preparation and design, writing artist/project statements, promotion, and programming.
Nine seniors were accepted, representing a range of different approaches to art, architecture, and design: Sofia Aquino, Farah Noor Chowdhury, Kayleen Dolan, Emma Valle, Ameer Elmenshawy, Amy Hogan, Hannah Neloms, Kira Russell, and Laura Reigle. Faculty advisors were: Jenny Kowalski, Wes Hiatt, Christina Chi Zhang, and Deirdre Murphy.
Ameer Elmenshawy ‘26
Project Title: Negotiating Direction: Qibla in Adaptively Reused Mosques
Major(s): Architecture
Ameer Elmenshawy ‘26 is an Architecture major. His project Negotiating Direction: Qibla in Adaptively Reused Mosques focuses on the architectural transformation of previously built spaces for use as mosques. Ameer is originally from Flemington, New Jersey. His advisor is Wes Hiatt.
Sofia Aquino ‘26
Project Title: Para Las Mujeres de Tierra [For the Women of the Land]
Major: Architecture
Sofia Aquino ‘26 is an Architecture major, whose project Para Las Mujeres de Tierra [For the Women of the Land] envisions spaces of reproductive justice for Indigenous Kichwa women in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Through the lens of architecture, Sofia explores how cultural preservation, spatial dignity, and Indigenous healing traditions can inform equitable access to reproductive care. Sofia is originally from Stamford, Connecticut. Project advisor: Christina Chi Zhang.
Amy Hogan ‘26
Project Title: Edges and Encounters: Architecture for Public Life
Majors: Architecture, Economics
Amy Hogan ‘26 is an Architecture and Economics major. Her project Edges and Encounters: Architecture for Public Life envisions a framework for incremental architectural intervention. Amy is originally from Westport, Connecticut. Her advisor is Wes Hiatt.
Hannah Neloms ‘26
Project Title: Between Borrowing and Belonging
Major: Architecture
Minor: Engineering
Hannah Neloms ‘26 is an Architecture major with a minor in Engineering. Her project: Between Borrowing and Belonging documents the spread of Little Free Libraries throughout Bethlehem, PA and proposes an architectural intervention around these boxes to create genuine community space. Hannah is originally from Houston, Texas. Her Faculty Advisor is Wes Hiatt.
Emma Valle ‘26
Project Title: Written Words: An Exploration into Hand Lettering
Major: Design (Graphic)
Minors: Marketing, Mass Communication
Emma Valle ‘26 is a Design major with minors in Marketing and Mass Communication. Her project Written Words: An Exploration into Hand Lettering focuses on the emotional impact of song lyrics when drawn and displayed visually. Emma is originally from Bloomsbury, NJ. Her advisor is Jenny Kowalski.
Farah Noor Chowdhury’26
Project Title: Pani Bari (House of Water)
Major(s): Architecture and Product Design
Farah Noor Chowdhury’26 is an Architecture and Product Design major. Her project, Pani Bari (House of Water), proposes an architectural intervention that absorbs rainwater to meet fundamental human needs. Farah is originally from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her advisor is Christina Chi Zhang.
Kira Russell ‘26
Project Title: Memory in an Empty Mall
Major: Architecture
Minors: Engineering and Music
Kira Russell '26 is an Architecture major with minors in Engineering and Music. Her project, Memory in an Empty Mall, documents the collective loss of social space embedded in the decline of regional shopping malls in the Lehigh Valley through spatial mapping, photography, and oral histories. Kira is originally from Ithaca, NY. Her faculty advisor is Wes Hiatt.
Laura Reigle ‘26
Project Title: GROW
Major: Graphic Design
Minors: Computer Science and Marketing
Laura Reigle ‘26 is a Design major with minors in Computer Science and Marketing. Her project GROW focuses on a botanical typeface and exhibition design system. Laura is originally from Hilton, NY. Her faculty advisor is Deirdre Murphy.
Kayleen Dolan ‘26
Project Title: Undine: A Visual Narrative
Major(s): Graphic Design & Studio Art
Kayleen Dolan ‘26 is a Graphic Design and Studio Art major. Her project Undine: A Visual Narrative focuses on retelling the story of Undine through the medium of Art Nouveau-inspired posters. Kayleen is originally from Avoca, Pennsylvania. Her faculty advisor is Jenny Kowalski.
