MFA, New York School of Interior Design
BA, Albany State University
MBA, Executive Program, Columbia Univeristy, Business School
BSME, Mechanical Engineering, University of Denver
Director, MPS in Digital Practice Management
MPS, Lighting Design, New York School of Interior Design
B.Arch, The City College of The City University of New York
Susy Mikhail holds a Bachelor of Architecture from The City College of New York (CCNY), is a Licensed Architect in New York and Virginia, NCARB Certified, and LEED GA Certified.
She has worked on several notable projects and accomplishments throughout her career. These include the Child Care Center at the NFATC campus for the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Va., the 120th Street mixed-used multifamily housing project in New York City, and her successful support of over 20 architecture and interior firms with Revit/BIM implementation through 4 ideal design. Currently, she is managing the creation of Firm Standards for three office projects.
Susy has extensive experience in digital practice management. As the co-founder and services director of 4 ideal design, a digital practice management consulting firm, she specializes in BIM implementation firmware. Her firm helps architecture firms establish efficient Revit workflows and processes, enabling them to create concise documentation using the Revit models. Susy and her team also provide training and on-boarding support for staff, assess their Revit skills, and offer customized training tutorials. Additionally, they provide ongoing project support, troubleshooting issues, and reviewing models for best practices and proper maintenance.
The importance of Digital Practice Management:
Digital Practice Management (DPM) is a critical part of any successful firm. It not only impacts the efficiency level of production, but it also touches on the quality of the drawings and models executed by the staff. My goal is to educate professionals on the importance of a successful DPM environment. From principals and firm owners to the young professionals learning how to navigate the architecture world. I believe having an effective DPM, a firm is guarantee to see efficient and productive results.
With an A.B. from Brown University and an MFA in Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design, Rebecca has over a decade of designing successful lighting solutions for a variety of sectors including corporate, healthcare, science & technology, and senior living. Rebecca’s passion for lighting design started after becoming active in theatre at a young age. After college, she transitioned from theatrical lighting to architectural lighting and the rest is history. In 2019, Rebecca was recognized by Lighting Magazine as one of the 40under40 lighting professionals for her leadership in design. Rebecca is an adjunct faculty member at NYSID and Parsons.
Chad teaches art history, aesthetics, and design theory at NYSID. He holds an MA in Art History and Criticism from Stony Brook University and BA in Art History from Florida State University.
Mark is a freelance photographer specializing in architectural and design photography. His work has appeared in Interior Design and Architectural Record. Mark has worked with a wide range of clients, including Barneys NY, Nintendo, Gensler, Cullman & Kravis, Baccarat, Frette, and many others. He studied at the International Center of Photography and has been teaching photography at NYSID since 2008. He shot the principal photography for an upcoming book on residential interiors to be published by NYSID and Clarkson Potter in 2017. He received his BA from Central Michigan University.
Shannon is principal of her firm, Shannon M. Leddy Interior Design and has been working in the profession for over 20 years as an interior designer. Shannon achieved an MA in Sustainable Interior Environments and BFA in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is a past board member of the ASID NY Metro Chapter. During the 2021 Commencement ceremony, Shannon was awarded The Breger Faculty Achievement Award, the highest honor the College bestows upon faculty members.
Brian James Lee operates arx.construction, a design/contracting firm in New York City. He is also partner at the theory based design office FRYLEE. His collaborations include Eurostruct Inc., RAAD Studio, PARA-Project, SchaumShieh, and The Open Workshop, in addition to experience in the fields of art, print, and construction.
He has been invited as critic at City College in New York City and Pratt Institute, and has published projects featured in Architecture Record, Architectural Digest, TimeOut Magazine, and GQ.com, with written work in Bracket Architecture, MONU Magazine, and PLAT Journal. He was also selected as a participant for ArchiPrix Moscow 2013.
Brian earned an M. Arch from Rice University in Houston, TX, where he received the Dearden Award for Outstanding Thesis and participated in the RSAP (Rice School of Architecture Paris) Program
Janet Lee, a graduate of NYSID (BFA) and Syracuse University (M.Arch), is an architect in the healthcare practice at NBBJ.
BFA, New York School of Interior Design
Architectural lighting designer, Natalia Lesniak is a multidisciplinary practitioner with a background in the arts and sciences, from the Cooper Union School of Art and the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She has worked on experiments and research that focus on the impact of light on circadian rhythms, cognitive performance, and the development of research based light therapy and design strategies. As a designer, Natalia works on a range of residential, office, hospitality, retail, and other commercial projects. She advises on the application of circadian research in architectural lighting.
Randi is an NCIDQ certified interior designer with more than 25 years of professional experience. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design from New York Institute of Technology and studied Lighting Design at Parsons School of Design. Prior to starting her own interior design practice in 2006, Randi was the director of interior design with Bogdanow Partners Architects from 1990 to 2005.
Robert is a visual artist. He received his BA in Philosophy from Rutgers University and an MFA in Painting and Sculpture from Southern Illinois University. He has taught at NYSID for more than 40 years; teaching Visual Concepts, Applied Ethics, and Conceptual Sketching.
Associate Dean Daniel Harper has primary oversight of the undergraduate programs. His responsibilities will extend into aspects of every degree program. Harper brings a wealth of experience as a designer, an academic administrator, a researcher, a professor, and an expert in evidence-based design. He has a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from Ohio University, and a Master of Interior Design from Harrington College of Design. A design educator since 2006, he served as assistant dean for the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University, and most recently, was the professor who chaired the interior architecture programs there. He has published extensive research, including a co-authored book on makerspaces in academic libraries called Academic Library Makerspaces: A Practical Guide to Planning, Collaborating, and Supporting Campus Innovation. His current research is focused on interior designers as leaders. He has presented his research at conferences all over the world. He began his career as a design practitioner for 14 years in commercial and healthcare design. He’s also an award-winning textile artist who creates art quilts. “I believe in leadership as service,” says Harper. “I’m here to support our students and the faculty through the rollout of a new curriculum, initiatives to increase and strengthen diversity and inclusion, program accreditation/reaccreditation, new program development, expanding study abroad…just to name a few priorities.”
After obtaining a Masters of Interior Design degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany, Harry arrived in the United States in 1995. He gained extensive experience working for some of the city’s most respected firms and spent nine years in the offices of Albert Hadley, who dubbed his desk ‘the magic shop’ before opening his own eponymous firm.
Published in various magazines and books, Harry loves to contribute to charities and has participated in several show houses.