“On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, I want to express our enthusiasm and excitement about the appointment of Chris Augostini as president,” said Robert C. Goddard III, Chair of the Emory University Board of Trustees, in a statement. “Our search generated a significant number of highly qualified candidates, but Chris’s exceptional leadership skills, distinguished record of achievement as executive vice president and COO, along with his deep understanding of Emory’s culture and community, made it clear he is the right leader for Emory,”��

Over the past nine years, Augostini has collaborated extensively with the Board of Trustees, the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors, and the university’s executive, academic,��administrative��and healthcare leaders to help enable Emory’s long-term growth and competitiveness. In his current roles, he oversees all enterprise functions for Emory, which is one of Georgia’s largest and most complex organizations and one of the nation’s top 25 universities.����

“I’m extraordinarily honored and thrilled to be named Emory’s next president,” Augostini said in a statement. “As I look across the higher education��landscape,��I��believe Emory��is positioned better than any other university to meet our current challenges and opportunities.��I look forward to beginning this new chapter in partnership with faculty, the board, students, staff, and the entire Emory community.”��������

Prior to joining Emory, Augostini served for 17 years as��Senior��Vice��President and��Chief��Operating��Officer at Georgetown University. Earlier in his career, he held senior government positions with the city and state of New York. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public policy analysis from the State University of New York at Albany.����

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The architecture firm ��—��with��offices��in Santa Rosa, Calif.,��and Oakland,��Calif. —��recently advanced��it’s��2030 vision by��establishing��an office in Castle Rock, Colo.��The��nearly 80-person��firm now has three employees in Colorado��supporting��projects across the company and��as they��look to build a strategic pipeline of opportunities in��the region.��Led by Studio Director Joel��Williams,��AIA,��LEED AP, ALEP,��the team also includes��Project��Designers Joseph Puyot and Spencer Robinson.��

Williams joined��QKA in 2020��and��has more than 18 years of experience in education design, from��small classroom renovations to large-scale campus master planning projects. With a leadership��style rooted in collaboration and��communication,��he will build on his established client and��partner relationships to grow QKA’s presence in the Rocky Mountains.����

“This��expansion is a natural extension of our community-minded work in��California and��offers great��opportunities to build our talent pipeline in a��highly desirable��region to live and work,” Williams said.��

Williams, who will also share his insights at the 91��Ƶ (SCN)��Design & Construction Symposium��in August, spoke recently with SCN to explain why Colorado is a compelling market for K-12 design, and how architecture can help schools do more with limited resources.��

SCN:��Colorado has seen significant growth and voter support for school bonds. How do you see those market conditions shaping the next generation of school design in the state?��

Williams:��Colorado voters approved��nearly��$6 billion��in new school bond funding in the 2024 election cycle, with��additional��measures��anticipated��on the 2026 ballot. That sustained community investment reflects the same conviction��we’ve��seen across the Bay Area: that well-designed schools are worth funding, and that communities will��back��that commitment at the ballot box.��

The policy landscape is similarly aligned. Evolving energy codes in both states are driving demand for schools that prioritize efficiency, renewable generation, and reduced fossil fuel reliance. Sustainability strategies that were once aspirational—daylighting, natural ventilation, solar generation, stormwater management—are now baseline expectations in both markets. The frontier of the conversation has moved upstream, from operational energy use to the embodied carbon inherent in the materials and processes��required��to build and renovate in the first place.����

The key distinction between the two markets is demographic. California enrollment is��largely stable��or slightly declining, while Colorado’s population growth is driving enrollment increases and expanding housing development across the region. That translates into demand for both new campuses and significant modernization of existing ones.��

SCN:��Many districts are balancing enrollment growth, aging infrastructure, and budget pressure. How can architecture help schools do more with limited resources?��

Williams:��There is no universal answer to the gap between funding and��need��that every public school district faces. Sometimes a creative renovation is the right investment; sometimes demolition and replacement of an aging facility is the better long-term decision. What matters is that the solution fits the place.��

In every case, the goal is the same: buildings that meet today’s needs while��remaining��adaptable, and that incorporate systems district facilities staff can��actually operate��and maintain effectively. Architecture helps schools do more with limited resources when��it’s��rigorous about long-term cost of ownership, not just first cost—and when��it’s��honest about which investments will still be paying dividends in 20 or 30 years.��

SCN:��Colorado districts vary widely—from fast-growing suburban systems to rural communities. How should education design adapt to��very different��local needs rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions?��

Williams:��Every project starts with active listening. Before we reach for a solution, we work to understand what a particular district, campus, and community actually��need. We have decades of experience in school design, but we focus more on bringing that��expertise��to creatively respond to a client’s goals than on telling them what they should think. The best designs respond to the constraints that make a school community and site unique—not necessarily those with the largest footprint or the biggest budgets. Across a state as varied as Colorado, that posture��isn’t��optional;��it’s��the only approach that works.��

SCN:��You bring��nearly��20��years of education design experience. What are the biggest shifts��you’ve��seen in learning environments over that time, and how will those lessons influence your Colorado work?��

Williams:��The biggest shifts��haven’t��been in classroom layout or building configuration;��they’ve��come from the systems, technology, and construction methods that make schools work��over time. As I mentioned previously, this is��apparent��in the shift in priorities��regarding��sustainability strategies. As certain strategies become the baseline, we can move to��focusing��more on concerns like embodied carbon.����

That whole-lifecycle thinking, developed through years of California work, is a direct asset as Colorado districts make long-term infrastructure decisions. Our Colorado presence��isn’t��designed to function as a stand-alone regional office; the vision is a distributed studio model—one firm,��operating��across multiple geographies, carrying the same design standards, technical rigor, and culture that have defined QKA for four decades. For Colorado districts, that means access not just to a local team, but to the full depth of QKA’s institutional knowledge, built project by project, district by district, over 40 years.��

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“I was drawn to Wells because of its��growth��momentum, industry leadership, and the quality and breadth of solutions delivered to clients,” said Orvis. “The culture and interactions throughout the interview process were a tipping point. I walked away from every conversation believing this was a team where collaboration, trust, and enjoyment in the work truly mattered.”����

Orvis joins Wells with more than eight years of experience in the building-services industry, following earlier leadership roles in large-scale distribution environments. He brings a strong background in industry processes, prioritizing how technology supports execution,��performance��and scalable outcomes.��A graduate��of Bethel University, Orvis holds��degrees��in��business and��marketing. His career also includes unique supply-chain leadership experience, offering firsthand insight into how high-performing organizations��operate��and scale effectively.��

“Rob brings a strong track record of technology leadership within complex organizations, along with the practical experience needed to help scale our business for the future,” said Ryan Stroschein, Chief Corporate Officer at Wells. “As Wells continues to grow, we are investing in innovation to strengthen our operational capabilities. Rob’s leadership is instrumental in advancing our technology strategy.”��

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The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System last week voted��unanimously to appoint Susan Ballabina, Ph.D.,��as 28th president of Texas A&M University.��Ballabina assumed��her new role on May 11, building on��more than three decades of service to Texas A&M and the State of Texas.��

Ballabina��previously��served��as Executive Vice Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, where she helped lead systemwide operations, advance strategic initiatives and support the work of the A&M System’s universities and agencies across Texas.��

Throughout her career,��Ballabina��has held senior leadership roles spanning the university and the A&M System, including Chief of Staff to the president, Senior Vice President for Academic and Strategic Collaborations, and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer for Texas A&M AgriLife. Her work has included strengthening statewide programs, building partnerships, supporting research and educational initiatives, and coordinating large-scale efforts such as the Healthy South Texas initiative and the disaster recovery following Hurricane Harvey.��

“Texas A&M has a strong foundation, a clear mission, and passionate faculty, staff, students, and former students who care deeply about its future,”��Ballabina��said��in a statement.��“I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by the regents and Chancellor Hegar, and I look forward to working alongside the Aggie community to build on that strength and move the university forward.”��

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McCullough��champions a creative and inclusive design process, and partners with clients to harness design in the advancement of their needs and unique cultures. His portfolio includes work with Google, Amazon, Panasonic, Penn State, the University of Virginia, the National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins��Hospital��and the U.S. General Services Administration. His work has received awards from associations including the American Institute of Architects, International Interior Design Association, NAIOP, Urban Land Institute, Society for College and University Planning and the U.S. Green Building Council.��

Beyond project work,��McCullough��is a member of the International Interior Design Association’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter and the U.S. Green Building Council’s National Capital Region Chapter.��He earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.��

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“Bryan, Ellis, Cody and Dylan have each proven themselves as critical members of our firm, and we’re confident their effect on our��leadership��team��will only push��Wold’s work��to��ever-higher standards. Growing our��leadership��team��in Colorado especially allows us��to��better serve clients throughout the region,” said CEO Vaughn Dierks, AIA, LEED AP. “The skill and passion this group brings��to��every project��to��continue creating lasting impact for the communities we serve. As new leaders, we know they will only continue��to��grow in their influence and innovative practice across Colorado, Minnesota and beyond.”

Since joining��Wold��in 2020, Hicks has worked across the firm’s education and government specialties��to��develop a unique cross-functional perspective. No matter the project, he has a passion for human-centered design that enhances a sense of place and encourages community for occupants. As both an architect and a project manager, he is driven��to��exceed client needs through collaboration and durable, strategic design. He earned his bachelor’s in architecture from Miami University and his master’s in architecture from the University of Michigan.

Joyner’s wide-ranging project experience, from airport and school renovations��to��residential construction and food services, has sharpened his ability��to��drive innovation on��Wold’s in-house engineering��team. His��leadership��on our in-house engineering��team��creates a seamless, collaborative experience for our clients that enhances accuracy, increases efficiency and accelerates timelines. His attention��to��detail delivers successful projects on time and��to��the highest standards. He earned his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

With 20 years of experience, Knoblock leverages his expertise in architecture, project management and construction administration��to��service clients. His broad expertise has cultivated a deep understanding of every step of the design and construction phases that allows him��to��translate ideas from construction documents into quality craftsmanship in every completed project. He is especially skilled in guiding clients in sustainable systems and material selection that��promotes��a green approach��to��facility improvements. He graduated from Norwich University with a bachelor’s in architectural studies.

Sullivan is an education project manager fueled by collaboration that empowers clients��to��contribute��to��meaningful design solutions. His solutions-oriented approach has facilitated the successful delivery of projects ranging from new builds��to��complex additions and renovations, all intentionally designed��to��elevate the user experience in the built environment. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from North Dakota State University.

Get more weekly reports and timely updates by subscribing for free at��schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.

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Ashauer joins HCM with a background in applied research, learning sciences, ethnographic inquiry and evidence-based design. She has spent her career embedding research directly into design workflows, translating insights about attention, regulation, memory, and social context into actionable strategies to drive more intentional, aligned, human-integrated outcomes. Her recent work includes pre- and post-occupancy studies, participatory design facilitation, multilingual community engagement, and the creation of research to design frameworks that enhance practice-wide accountability and shared understanding.

“Erika brings a rare combination of cognitive neuroscience rigor and human experience perspective to impact and improve the design of our PK-12 spaces,” said Adele Willson, PK-12 Studio Leader, in a statement. “Her approach not only deepens our research capabilities but strengthens our ability to create environments that truly support the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of learners and educators.”

Ashauer holds a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science, neuroscience and psychology from the University of California, San Diego. She is an Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP), holds Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) and is certified in Emotional Intelligence Coaching.

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Kelly arrives with a distinguished record of leadership across multiple universities, including service as president of the Arkansas State University System, president of the University of West Georgia, appointment as interim president of the University of South Carolina, and chancellor of University of South Carolina Upstate. His career has been defined by student-centered innovation, financial stewardship, and community partnership-building.��

In remarks on his first day, Kelly emphasized the urgency, optimism and forward momentum that will define his presidency.��

“This work is personal to me,” Kelly said. “Eastern Michigan University shaped my life – first as a student, then as a scholar, and now as a leader. Today is not just��a beginning;��it’s��a call to action. We��don’t��have a minute to waste. Our students are counting on us, our communities are counting on us, and the state of Michigan is counting on��us.”��

Kelly��earned both his bachelor’s degree in public relations and��master’s��degree in communication from EMU before completing his Ph.D. in political communication and rhetoric at Wayne State University.����

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