Episode 97: Dr. Sharon Sutton
Sharon Egretta Sutton was born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in the Jim Crow era. Sharon took music lessons as a young child and went from playing piano to playing the french horn. Sharon attended college in New York City and went on to professionally play the the french horn. Sharon fell into architecture after renovating an apartment she was fixing in New York City. Eventually, in 1967, Sharon enrolled at Parsons School of Design and later transferred to Columbia University. Sharon graduated with an M. Arch in 1973, started her practice in 1976, and in 1982 she received her PhD in Psychology from City University of New York. Dr. Sharon taught at several universities such as Columbia, Parsons, University of Washington, and the University of Michigan. While teaching there, she published several books and was selected for several fellowships - leading her to get promoted to a full-time professor. - (making her the first!).
Sharon has won several awards including Michigan's Hall of Fame! Sharon also became the first black woman to serve as the president of the National Architectural Accrediting Board. In 1995, Sharon was be the second African American woman to be elevated to AIA Fellow, and in 2011 she became the second African-American woman to win the Whitney M. Young Award. (Epiosde 02 lady, Norma Merrick Sklarek was the first to win both awards). Today, Dr. Sharon continues to speak, lecture, and publish based out of New York City.
Caryatid: Nyasha Harper Michon
Nyasha is a self-proclaimed “Architivist” which she explains are “architectural professionals and enthusiasts driving economic environmental, and societal reform to foster positive changes in society and within the profession.” Currently based out of Toronto, Nyasha is an architect, business strategist, educator, speaker, and writer. Before living in Toronto, she lived in the Netherlands.
References
AIA Seattle Honors - Sharon Egretta Sutton FAIA. sites.google.com/site/aiaseattlehonors/aia-seattle-honors/aia-seattle-medal/sharon-egretta-sutton-faia.
Gamolina, Julia. “Teacher and Coach: Dr. Sharon Egretta Sutton on Discipline, Intellectual Leadership, and Being the First — Madame Architect.” Madame Architect, 26 Aug. 2021, www.madamearchitect.org/interviews/2021/2/24/dr-sharon-egretta-sutton.
Parlour. “In Conversation … Sharon Egretta Sutton.” Parlour, 26 Aug. 2023, parlour.org.au/series/in-conversation/in-conversation-with-sharon-egretta-sutton.
“Sharon Egretta Sutton | BEYOND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.” BeyondtheBuilt.com, www.beyondthebuilt.com/sharon-egretta-sutton.
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