Board of Directors

Rachelle Schoessler Lynn, FASID, CID, LEED Fellow
Chair

With over 25 years of experience, Rachelle has devoted her career to design excellence, specifically focused on workplace innovation with an emphasis on how design impacts health and well-being. She is a leader in resilient design and has been an advocate for innovative sustainability solutions for her entire career. Rachelle’s experience includes acting as former Director of Workplace, + Firmwide Design REsilience Leader at Gensler, Minneapolis, MN.

Rachelle is one of the original authors of the Minnesota B3 Guidelines (Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond) and a co-founder of the Minnesota USGBC chapter. She received the ASID Fellow distinction in 2009, was recognized as the ASID National Designer of Distinction in 2016, and served as the National Chair of the ASID Board of Directors from 2014-2015. While ASID National Chair, Rachelle furthered the case for sustainable design through poliy, research initiatives, and writing and speaking engagements.

Rachelle taught architecture and interior design courses at the University of Minnesota for about 12 years.

Rachelle was awarded the LEED Fellow distinction in 2013 and is currently serving on the Council for Interior Design Accreditation Board of Directors. She is the immediate Past Chair for the national AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group that has developed the 2050 Material Pledge.

Jennifer Busch, Hon. IIDA
Chair Elect

Jennifer Busch, Hon. IIDA, is Vice President of Business Development for Officeworks, an experienced office consulting firm dedicated to providing innovative office interior solutions. Prior to Officeworks, Jennifer served as the Director of Client Partnerships for Eventscape, and previously served for six years as Vice President A&D at Teknion, where she was responsible for the development and maintenance of key business relationships with major architecture and interior design firms throughout North America, and at Interface, where she served as Vice President A&D Market Development for three years. Prior to joining Interface, she held various editorial positions at Contract magazine for 21 years, including serving as Editor in Chief from 1999-2011. At Contract, she routinely reported on the social, political, technological, economic, and business trends impacting the practice of commercial interior design, with a particular emphasis on design’s influence on business and society.

As an industry throught leader who promotes the value of design for organizations and institutions with real business goals, Jennifer is also a respected speaker and moderator at numerous industry events and conferences. She applies knowledge of current design and real estate trends and human and environmental sustainability to develop and promote content focused on the effectiveness and efficiency of commercial real estate and the positive impact of thoughtful design solutions.

In 2009 she was bestowed with Honorary IIDA status, the first design editor to have achieved such recognition. She currently serves on the CIDA Board of Directors and the IIDA Foundation Board of Trustees, and has served on the Advisory Boards of the FIT Sustainable Interior Environments Master’s Degree program and the FIT Interior Design program.

Susan Wiggins, CAE, Hon. IDC
Secretary-Treasurer

Susan Wiggins is currently the Executive Director of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) in Toronto, Ontario. OPPI is an organization of over 4,000 planning professionals (RPPs) who work to improve the quality, livability, and sustainability of communities today and in the future.

Susan has over 25 years of experience leading non-profit organizations. Prior to her current role, Susan spent twenty years leading interior design organizations across North America. From 2015-2020 she was COO for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), from 2010-2015 she was the CEO for Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) and she was the Executive Director of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) from 2000-2010.

With significant experience and an extensive network in the built environment, both in Canada and the USA, Susan has become known for her passion, presence, and commitment to advancing future focused conversations in meaningful and impactful ways. Susan is a sought after thought leader in non-profit organizations, strategic planning, relationship building, professional regulation and public affairs.

Susan earned her CAE designation in 1995. In 2011, she was the recipient of the IIDA/IDC Design Leadership Award and the Ryerson University Leadership Award. She was awarded an Honorary membership in Interior Designers of Canada in 2014.

Vincent G. Carter, FASID, NCIDQ

Vincent G. Carter served as a FIDER/CIDA volunteer 1996-2009, including site visitor, team chair, a member of the evaluation committee, and Chair of the Accreditation Commission. Carter also participated in the restructuring task force, and future’s panels and workshops. Carter volunteered with NCIDQ from 1989-2000 representing the Washington, DC Board of Interior Designers, served as International President, Director of Finance and Administration, NLCID Representative to ASID, the restructuring task force, the Board of Directors, IDEP mentor, juror team leader, jury coordinator, and juror. Carter has also been volunteering with ASID since 1980, starting as a student member and advancing to a professional member, eventually being elected to the College of Fellows in 2009. He served on various national and local committees, co-chaired the 2018 College of Fellows, was a member of the 2018 Ones to Watch selection committee, has been active in the Washington Metro ASID chapter since 1983, serving as Director of Government and Public Affairs, President Elect, President, Chapter Board, and more.

Carter taught interior design as an adjunct professor from 1984-2000 at Howard University, Marymount University, and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

Carter worked in facilities with multiple government or quasi government agencies including The World Bank; US Department of State, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire Arms and Explosives (ATF), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and is currently a National Director Real Property Portfolio with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Serving as facilities management consult via Vincent G. Carter Associates, Inc. since 1995.

Amanda Gale, Ph.D., NCIDQ, WELL AP, LEED AP (BD+C)

Amanda Gale, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Interior Architecture at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.  She is a WELL AP, LEED AP (BD+C), and NCIDQ certificate holder. Amanda teaches upper-level studios and coursework in lighting design, research methods, and sustainable design. She has mentored over 125 students to earn their LEED Green Associate credential. Amanda has received numerous teaching awards from the academy (James Y. Joyner Award for Teaching Excellence from UNCG, College of Arts and Sciences Teaching Excellence Award from UNCG) and from the design profession (DesignIntelligence Most Admired Educator, Educator of the Year award from the Carolinas Chapter of IIDA).

Amanda’s research is focused on wellbeing in higher education and career preparedness. In addition to numerous publications and presentations, she has received grants and recognitions for her scholarship including the IDEC Special Projects Grant, the Edison Price Fellowship from the Nuckolls Fund, Bernard Glickman Dean's Professorship and Best Scholarship of Design Research Presentation from IDEC.

Amanda serves on the Board of Directors for the Journal of Interior Design and has volunteered in many capacities throughout the Scholarship collaborative of IDEC. She has also served within several other organizations including ASID, IIDA, USGBC, and CIDQ. 

Victoria Horobin, BAA, ARIDO, IDC, NCIDQ

Victoria Horobin, BAA, ARIDO, IDC, NCIDQ, is a a graduate of the School of Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto and has been in practice since 1987. She brings several years of experience in both private and public sector commercial interior design, with a focus on workplace and institutional projects. In addition to her interiors experience, she has worked extensively with architectural firms and brings a good understanding of complete project scope.  

Victoria has volunteered for interior design advocacy and regulatory groups throughout her career and has served both on the board and as president for ARIDO and CIDQ.   She was the 2018 recipient of the IIDA/IDC Design Leadership Award and has been honored with the Louis Tregre award by CIDQ.  She is also a Fellow of both ARIDO and IDC. 

Margaret Portillo, PhD, FIDEC, ISCC

Margaret Portillo, PhD, FIDEC, ISCC, is the Associate Dean for Research + Strategic Initiatives in the College of Design, Construction and Planning at the University of Florida. Supporting faculty and graduate students in Architecture, Building Construction, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban & Regional Planning, Sustainability & Built Environment, and Historic Preservation, she facilitates priority university initiatives, including Social Justice and Artificial Intelligence. Previously, she served as Chair of the Department of Interior Design, which houses top tier undergraduate, masters, and PhD programs. She thoroughly enjoys working with students at all levels and was honored to be recognized by the Florida Education Foundation with a William R. Jones Award for outstanding mentorship of African American McKnight doctoral fellows.

As a researcher, she is fascinated by creativity, design innovation, and environmental color. Recently, she was part of a team receiving an EDRA commendation that recognizes research with translational significance and practice impact. This study sponsored by an ASID Transform grant created a typology of mixed-use learning zones on campuses. Through books, articles, essays and presentations, her scholarship has been shared widely with academic and practice groups nationally and internationally.

Portillo also is committed to service endeavors that advance the field: She led a multi-year CIDA standards development project and the FIDER Research Council. She also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Interior Design, published by IDEC, and helped expand JID’s reach, readership, and ranking. Most recently she organized an IDEC Fellows Forum on enhancing diversity, inclusion, and access in interior design education. Another rewarding interaction with practice involved serving as a juror for the IIDA MidAmerica and IIDA InWards competitions that celebrated design excellence, in Midwest as well as in select North Pacific states and Canadian provinces.

Felice Silverman, FIIDA

Felice Silverman, FIIDA is a Principal at Silverman Trykowski Associates, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. She served as President of the International Interior Design Association from 2013-2014 and served on IIDA’s International Board of Directors from 2009-2016. Ms. Silverman has been practicing interior design for the past 25 years, with a focus on the design of interior spaces for workplace, education, children, healthcare, and fitness.

Ms. Silverman is NCIDQ certified and was the 2006-2007 President of the IIDA New England Chapter. She served on the Boston Architectural College’s (BAC) Board of Trustees from 2009-2012 and 2016-2018, as an Overseer from 2012-2016, and was the Chair of the BAC’s Interior Design Advisory Board and Student Development Committee. Felice is the past President of the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) and has served as a member of the Massachusetts Interior Design Coalition Advisory Council. She has been an educator and guest critic at many colleges and has served on numerous competition juries nationally.

Ms. Silverman is the Co-Chair of the Boston Society of Architects Women in Design Award of Excellence and a member of the Design Museum Foundation’s Center for Workplace Innovation Think Tank.

Ms. Silverman was elected to the IIDA College for Fellows in 2014 and is the recipient of a 2014 Design New England Mentors in Design (Middies) Award.

Ms. Silverman received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Harvard University in 1985 and a Master of Interior Design degree from the Boston Architectural College

Alana Pulay, PhD, Ncidq, WELL & LEED AP

Alana Pulay is an assistant professor in the School of Design + Construction at Washington State University.  Her research, teaching, and professional practice is centered around occupant behavior in public school facilities. She completed a PhD in Design and the Human Environment at Oregon State University where her focused research was on elementary school classroom lighting and the influence on student behavior. As an NCIDQ credentialed, WELL AP and LEED AP interior designer, her professional experience includes over sixteen years’ working with architecture and engineering firms across the nation with a specialization in the design of sustainable PreK-12 public school facilities.

Dr. Pulay has over eleven years of interior design teaching experience in various higher educational institutions across the United States. Her teaching philosophy incorporates the integration of her research with her professional experience to help students better understand the relationship between the built environment and human behavior.  She strives to prepare students for successful careers in the industry.

Dr. Pulay volunteers as an NCIDQ Exam writer and is an active member of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC). She serves as a member on the K-12 Education committee as well as the Student Design Competition Coordination and Proceedings Coordinator for the Pacific West Region. She received the IDEC special projects grant two times for research on the behaviors of students and teachers in learning environments. In addition, she has presented at numerous national and international conferences, published several journal articles and a book chapter focusing on her research area.