Faculty

Dr. Sharon Egretta Sutton, FAIA is an educator, author, and citizen architect with worldwide reach who has shifted the profession of architecture toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive future. Throughout a career that has been shaped by the obstacles and opportunities inherent in this nation's political landscape, she has held fast to an uncommon passion to represent the unrepresented, while developing tools of activism for the next generation of design professionals. Sutton was just the twelfth African American woman to become a licensed architect in the United States, the first to be promoted to full professor of architecture, and the second to be elevated to AIA fellowship. In addition to her current position at Parsons, she has served on the faculties of the University of Cincinnati, University of Michigan, University of Washington, Columbia University, and Pratt Institute. She is the first African American ever to receive the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion Award for Excellence in Architectural Education. Sutton’s research, shared across six books and countless articles she has either authored or co-authored, encapsulates hidden histories, broken pipelines, and other factors that hamper the potential of architecture education to affect change.

Higher Education

1976-1982 City University of New York Environmental Psychology Program Master of Arts and PhD in Psychology (1982) Master of Philosophy (1981)

1969-1973 Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation Master of Architecture (1973)

1967-1969 Parsons School of Design Department of Interior Design Transferred to Columbia University

1962-1963 University of Hartford Hartt College of Music Bachelor of Music (French Horn) (1963)

1959-1962 Manhattan School of Music, Studied with Gunther Schuller Transferred to Hartt College

Continuing Education

1995-Present American Institute of Architects Mandatory Continuing Education System

1986-1989 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Leadership Development Conferences and Seminars

1970-2013 Art Studio Internships Sev Shoon in Seattle (Collagraph, Photolithography Lawrence Barker Studio in Barcelona, Spain (Papermaking) Printmaking Workshop in New York City (Intaglio) Studio di Santa Reparata in Florence, Italy (Intaglio)

Books and Monographs

Sharon Egretta Sutton (June 2023). Pedagogy of a Beloved Commons: Pursuing Democracy's Promise through Place-Based Activism. New York: Fordham University Press, Polis: Fordham Series in Urban Studies, Daniel J. Monti, Series Editor.

Sharon Egretta Sutton (February 2017).  When Ivory Towers Were Black: A Story about Race and the Struggle to Transform Cities and Universities with Foreword by James Stewart Polshek.  New York: Fordham University Press Empire State Editions.

Reviews

Rico Self (Spring 2020), [Book Review] “Sharon Egretta Sutton, When Ivory Towers Were Black: A Story about Race in Americas Cities and Universities,” Journal of African American History 105, no. 2: 344–346.

Brian D. Goldstein (09 March 2018), [Book Review] “Sharon Egretta Sutton, When Ivory Towers Were Black: A Story about Race in Americas Cities and Universities,” Journal of Architectural Education Online, http://www.jaeonline.org/articles/reviews-books/when-ivory-towers-were-black-story-about-race-americas-cities-and#/page1/– page8/.

Press

Brentin Mock (19 May 2017), “Behind the Black Architectural Resistance.”  Bloomberg City Lab: np, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-19/inside-decades-of-black-architectural-resistance.

Christopher Hawthorn (06 April 2017), “Challenging the Whiteness of American Architecture, in the 1960s and Today.”  Los Angeles Times: np, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-when-ivory-towers-were-black-20170406-htmlstory.html.

Gretchen von Koenig (04 April 1917), “How to Get More Minority Students in Architecture? Look to 1968.”  Metropolis: np, https://metropolismag.com/viewpoints/how-get-minority-students-architecture-1968/.

Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp (eds.) (2011).  The Paradox of Urban Space: Inequality and Transformation in Marginalized Communities.  New York: Palgrave Macmillian.

Reviews

Alice K. Butterfield (13 August 2014), [Book Review] “Sutton, S. E. & Kemp, S.P. (Eds.),The Paradox of Urban Space: Inequality and Transformation in Marginalized Communities,” Journal of Community Practice 22, no. 3: 414–417.

Editor (July 2012), [Reviewed Work] “The Paradox of Urban Space: Inequality and Transformation in Marginalized Communities by Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp,” Contemporary Sociology 41, no. 4: 542.

Tina Richardson (2011, 06 July).  “Urban Space as a Medium for Democracy.” Parallax 17, no. 3: 113–115.

Sharon E. Sutton, Susan P. Kemp, Lorraine Guiterréz, and Susan Saegert (2006).  Urban Youth Programs in America: A Study of Youth, Community, and Social Justice Conducted for the Ford Foundation.  Seattle, WA: University of Washington.

Book Chapters and Articles

Sharon E. Sutton (2015).  Foreword; and Chapter eleven: reality-based learning in design studio education.  In Carla Jackson Bell (Ed.), Space Unveiled (pp. xvi–xvii and pp,102–112).  New York: Routledge Research in Architecture Series.

Sharon E. Sutton (2013, September).  Special Issue "Designing Spaces for City Living" [Special Guest Editor], Buildings.  [Open access available online at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings/special_issues/designing_spaces_for_city_living].

Sharon E. Sutton (2011).  Struggling for the right to housing: a critical analysis of the evolution of West Seattle's High Point.  In The Paradox of Urban Space (pp. 29–51).

Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp (2011).  Introduction: place as marginality and possibility.  In The Paradox of Urban Space, pp. 1–9

Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp (2011).  Place: a site of social and environmental inequity.  In The Paradox of Urban Space (pp. 13–28).

Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp (2011).  Place: a site of individual and collective transformation.  In The Paradox of Urban Space (pp. 113–134).

Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp (2011).  Conclusions: Standing shoulder-to- shoulder in a place-conscious society.  In The Paradox of Urban Space (pp. 259–265).

Sharon E. Sutton (2008).  Engaging the public, seeking common ground; and Discovering the power of youth. In  Nancy B. Solomon (ed.), Architecture: Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future (pp. 64–77;and pp. 84).  New York: Visual Reference Inc.; Washington, DC: The American Institute of Architects.

Sharon E. Sutton (2007).  A social justice perspective on youth and community development: theorizing the processes and outcomes of participation.  Children, Youth, and Environments, 17 (2), 616–645.  [Available online at: http://www.colorado. edu/journals/cye].

Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp (2006, September).  Integrated social science and design inquiry through interdisciplinary design charrettes: an approach to participatory community problem-solving.  American Journal of Community Psychology, 38 (1–2), 125–139.

Sharon E. Sutton and Susan P. Kemp (2005).  Children's participation in constructing a social just public sphere.  In Mark Blades and Christopher Spencer (eds.), Children and Their Environments: Learning, Using, and Designing Spaces (pp. 256–276).  Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Book Reviews

Sharon E. Sutton (2014, Spring). Review essay: can the ideals of public scholarship help resolve conflicts between urban universities and declining post-industrial communities?  Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 96–101.

Sharon E. Sutton (2012, Fall). Review essay: can service-learning help restore the public university's role in safeguarding American democracy? Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 69–73.

Journalism and Commentaries

Sharon E. Sutton (2015, 31 January).  New urban unlimited.  Alternative-Talk 1150 KKNW, AM Radio.

Sharon E. Sutton (2012, 13 January).  Listen to citizens on Virginia Mason expansion.  Puget Sound Business Journal, Guest Opinion, Print Edition.

Sharon E. Sutton (2009, 5 June).  Major institutions should not be immune from Seattle's pedestrian-friendly municipal code.  The Seattle Times.

Sharon E. Sutton (2008, 10 July).  Public needs to stay involved when development is reviewed.  The Seattle Times, Local B9.

Sharon E. Sutton (2008, Winter).  One man's quest for the everyday practice of architecture: honoring the legacy of Stephen A. Kliment, FAIA.  Arcade, 47.

Sharon E. Sutton (2004, 30 July).  Get youth involved in their communities: art activities help young people connect with their world.  Seattle Post Intelligencer.