Debra Ruben is an Associate Professor and the Academic Associate Dean for Westphal College and a commissioner for the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Previously, she was the Program Director for the undergraduate Interior Design and graduate Interior Architecture & Design programs. She co-chaired the committee to develop the MS Design program and the long-standing minor in Sustainability in the Built Environment. Debra’s research explores human centered design, sustainability, and participatory practices as they relate to community building. Debra has received numerous foundation grants to fund projects that serve communities in West Philadelphia.

Ulrike Altenmüller-Lewis is an Associate Professor and the Department Head for Architecture, Design & Urbanism at Drexel University and served prior as the Program Director for Architecture for over ten years. She is a registered architect educated at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany, and the Esquela Superior de Arquitectura (ETSAM) in Madrid, Spain, who has practiced in Europe and the U.S. She serves as a site visitor for the National Architecture Accrediting Board. Her research explores how the built environment influences human well-being and performance, with a focus on learning spaces and community-driven design.