Three faculty members in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design received G. Holmes Perkins Teaching Awards for 2021, in recognition of distinguished teaching and innovation in a classroom, seminar, or studio setting. The awards are given annually in honor of G. Holmes Perkins, an architect and longtime faculty member who was dean of the School of Design from 1951–1971, and based on nominations by students. The winners will be recognized in the printed program for the School’s 2021 Commencement Webcast.
Paul Farber, a lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts and senior research scholar at Weitzman’s Center for Public Art and Space, received the Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award for Non-Standing Faculty. Farber is a curator, historian, and educator, and is the artistic director and co-founder of Monument Lab, a public art and history studio. Farber’s research and curatorial projects explore transnational urban history, cultural memory, and creative approaches to civic engagement.
One of Farber’s students said, “I took Paul’s Monument Lab class last semester, and it was one of the best learning experiences I’ve had, even though it was over Zoom. I always left his classes feeling more energized and with many more ideas and important questions.” “Paul’s classroom, even virtually, is a place that cultivates warmth, creativity, and openness,” said another.
Erick Guerra, an associate professor and the associate chair of the Department of City and Regional Planning received the Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award for Standing Faculty. Guerra teaches courses in transportation planning and quantitative planning methods. His research focuses on the relationship between land use, transportation systems, and travel behavior with an emphasis on rapidly motorizing cities, public health outcomes, and transportation technologies. He has published articles on land use and transportation in Mexico and Indonesia, public transport policy, land use and traffic safety, and contemporary planning for self-driving vehicles.
One of Guerra’s students said, “He teaches in an engaging manner and creates a learning environment in which students want to perform well.” Another said, “Erick serves as a great example of civility which makes not only an educator but also a role model.”
Gabriel Martinez, a senior lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts, was awarded the Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, which rotates each year between Architecture and Fine Arts. Martinez is a Cuban American visual artist originally from Miami, Florida who works largely with photography, performance, and installation. He was a Pew Fellowship in the Arts recipient in 2001, received a Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship in 2003, and in 2019 was awarded an Independent Creative Production Grant from the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation and an Independence Foundation Fellowship. He teaches a range of lens-based courses for Undergraduate Fine Arts and Design, including Body & Photography, Digital Photo II, Queer Imaginings, and Silverstein Studio Abroad.
One of Martinez’s students said, “Gabe has been a pivotal part of my journey as a photographer. He is genuinely excited about his students’ work and provides clear and constructive criticism.” Another said, “he has taught me how to boil down my ideas into a concept that’s clearly communicated to my audience. I really owe him a lot!"
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