Latest News:

Professor Stuart Umpleby        

Professor Stuart Umpleby, member of Beta Omicron Chapter at George Washington University, recently co-authored the article “Adopting Service-Learning in Universities around the World”  in the Journal of the World Universities Forum, 2008. Volume 1, Issue 2, pp.39-48.

Paul Rich Library Opens

Recently the Universidad de las Américas in Puebla, Mexico, honored our very own Dr. Paul Rich who is the Historian/Archivist of the Society.  The University named the library in his honor.  Dr. Rich dedicated more than 29,000 volumes to the library.  http://www.udlap.mx/noticias/boletin/boletin.aspx?id=841 UDLA is the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta. 

American Society of Architectural Illustrators Gives Award of Excellence to School of Design Professor

October 16, 2006

Mount Ida College School of Design Professor Tom Yamamoto received an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) at its annual conference in Chicago, Ill. on October 14.

The award recognizes Yamamoto for his 16x24 inch concept sketch of a triangulated waterfront hotel. It was selected by an ASAI jury as one of the top 60 of nearly 500 entries from five continents. The winning illustrations will be part of a ten-month road show that will make several stops across the United States. 
 
Yamamoto’s prize-winning illustration will also be featured in an accompanying ASAI catalogue for the exhibition, “Architecture in Perspective 21.” The exhibition will premier in Chicago on October 13 to coincide with ASAI’s annual conference and is scheduled to run at Mount Ida College’s art gallery from March 27 through May 6, 2007.  There will be a gallery reception at the College on April 4 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. and a gallery talk that evening at 6:00 p.m.
 
Yamamoto, who resides in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood of Boston, is also a recipient of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society award for International Scholars and the Ronald J. Lettieri Award for Excellence in Teaching at Mount Ida.
 
“Professor Yamamoto is a valued member of the faculty in the interior design program and the School of Design,” said Maria Vitagliano, director of the School of Design. “Students benefit greatly from his experience and expertise and his generous spirit, enthusiasm and intelligence are reflected in his dedication to students and the quality of his work.” 
 
ASAI is a non-profit international professional organization of architectural illustrators whose goals include raising the standards of architectural illustration and to acquaint the public with the importance of such drawing as integral to the practice of architecture.
 
“Personally, it is very satisfying and gratifying to be recognized by ASAI,” said Yamamoto, the recipient of several other Awards of Excellence and a charter member and former president of ASAI from 1986 through 1996. Yamamoto’s works have been exhibited in the United States, Europe and Asia since 1985. He has also served as a panelist, commentator and speaker at ASAI’s annual conferences.
 
“Tom has been very supportive of our group,” said ASAI Executive Director Tammy Horch-Prezioso. “And to have been involved for so many years shows his passion for the organization and a love for the field of architectural rendering – which brings a building to life.”

Source: http://www.mountida.edu/sp.cfm?pageid=254&id=835

Past News:

1. December 2005: Dr. Paul Rich, the coordinator for Gamma Sigma Chapter at the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico, along with Daniel Guiterrez, the chapter Vice President, visited Israel, Jordan, and Egypt in December. Dr. Rich gave talks at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at Ben Gurion University in Beersheba. At Ben Gurion there was considerable interest in Phi Beta Delta and a chapter may result. There was an opportunity to talk with Palestinian political leaders and visit a Palestinian area, as well as visit to a community of Indian Jews from Cochin and with members of the Israeli Supreme Court. Dr. Rich noted that there was an understandable lack of tourists in some places and while in Egypt there was an escort with machine guns, not something which would encourage holiday makers.
   
   However, he also pointed out that both Jewish and Arab faculty and students were glad to have a visitor and extended extremely warm hospitality.
2. Dr. Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic, is one of Phi Beta Delta’s newest members.
3. Yazmín Rijos Ortiz of Omega Chapter is an award-winning film director and actor.
4. Beta Omicron instrumental in first Student Navigator Awards at Potomac Institute. Ed. D. candidate, John Hnatio is a candidate for membership in the Beta Omicron’s fall 2004 induction ceremony.