Marymount Professor Honored for Contributions Through Interior Design

Moira Gannon Denson was recently honored by the DC Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers for her “significant contributions toward improving the quality of the human environment through interior design activities.”

Denson, an assistant professor at Marymount University, received the Wm. L. Wilkoff, FASID Design for Humanity Award at a Sept. 24 awards ceremony. It recognized her work putting together an Aging By Design-a-thon, which sought practical solutions for the challenges of getting older, along with Marymount’s partnership with United Cerebral Palsy and the promotion of design for disabilities.

“She’s a passionate educator who cares deeply about our students,” said Douglas Seidler, chair of Marymount’s Department of Interior Design. “She’s really helping our students evolve and learn to empathize with clients. I don’t think one can be a good designer without empathizing with the end user.”

Two adjunct professors in Marymount’s design department also received awards. Kia Weatherspoon won The Sheri Lake, FASID Community Service Award, and Susan Tully earned a Presidential Citation. Marymount alumna and former adjunct Lisa Fitzpatrick also earned a Presidential Citation.

“It really felt like a Marymount event,” Seidler said. “We always talk about the strength of the department through the lens of our students’ work and the awards they win. The fact that our faculty also wins awards speaks to our department’s strengths and reinforces why our students are doing such great things in the classroom and when they graduate.”

Denson said she hoped to instill in her students the drive to develop innovative design solutions that improve lives.

“I was honored to be recognized by my professional association for work that I have been doing while in academia,” Denson said. “I would never have received this award without the contributions of my colleagues and our students.”

Photo caption
Moira Gannon Denson, center, front row, is shown holding the Wm. L. Wilkoff, FASID Design for Humanity Award, which she received from the DC Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers.