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Stephanie McGoldrick

faculty

Stephanie McGoldrick

she/her

Assistant Professor

Design

Contact

508-999-8740

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College of Visual & Performing Arts 352A

Education

2013Corcoran College of Art + DesignMA
2004Indiana University of PennsylvaniaBS

Teaching

Courses

Study of sustainable building concepts, green architecture strategies, and systems development. Students learn hierarchy as it relates to spatial allocation, corporate structure, corporate image, basic commercial office codes, and commercial office furnishing/equipment. A comprehensive studio project will encompass site and environmental planning, material and system selection, and integration of technology to create spaces that are functional, aesthetically interesting, and environmentally sound.

Introduction to the principles of good lighting practice. Students will be introduced to formulas, calculations, and technical terminology necessary to put theory into practice. Aesthetic factors (such as color rendition and psychological factors related to the nature of various light sources and lighting control methods) are considered in the context of the importance of the ambiance produced by the creative use of lighting.

Survey of variety of textile characteristics, finish methods, and furnishings. Emphasis is on the performance, maintenance, life cycle, costs, acoustic properties, sustainability, codes and environmental considerations, of interior finishes which are a part of the specifications process. Students learn standards and product specification-writing.

Placement in the professional work environment. Students gain first-hand experience in their preferred area of the interior architecture and design profession. Students may or may not be paid for their services but gain experience of great value for their career.

Placement in the professional work environment. Students gain first-hand experience in their preferred area of the interior architecture and design profession. Students may or may not be paid for their services but gain experience of great value for their career.

Selection of a specific type of design for thesis based on accumulated knowledge and design maturity. This course is devoted to original research programming and documentation. This is a writing-intensive course with each student producing a written program documenting their findings, analysis and recommendations in preparation for Thesis Studio.

A continuation of IAD 440 Pre-Thesis: Programmatic Research demonstrating aptitude for the Interior Architecture + Design profession. Thesis topics represent student's individuality and acquired written, verbal and visual communication skills. Students work with internal and an external advisor with expertise in the students¿ focus area of design. The course requires weekly critiques and a final presentation to a selected review committee.

A continuation of IAD 440 Pre-Thesis: Programmatic Research demonstrating aptitude for the Interior Architecture + Design profession. Thesis topics represent student's individuality and acquired written, verbal and visual communication skills. Students work with internal and an external advisor with expertise in the students¿ focus area of design. The course requires weekly critiques and a final presentation to a selected review committee.

A continuation of IAD 440 Pre-Thesis: Programmatic Research demonstrating aptitude for the Interior Architecture + Design profession. Thesis topics represent student's individuality and acquired written, verbal and visual communication skills. Students work with internal and an external advisor with expertise in the students¿ focus area of design. The course requires weekly critiques and a final presentation to a selected review committee.

A continuation of IAD 440 Pre-Thesis: Programmatic Research demonstrating aptitude for the Interior Architecture + Design profession. Thesis topics represent student's individuality and acquired written, verbal and visual communication skills. Students work with internal and an external advisor with expertise in the students¿ focus area of design. The course requires weekly critiques and a final presentation to a selected review committee.

Research

Research activities

  • Lighting Design
  • Sustainable Design
  • Community Engagement
  • Community Engagement
  • Climate Resilience

Research awards

  • $ 20,000 awarded by James L Nuckolls Fund Education Lighting for An Open Educational Resource for Lighting Educators
  • $ 2,000 awarded by International Furnishings & Design Assoc for IFDA Irma Dobkin Universal Design Grant to Support a Universal Design Symposium at the UMass Dartmouth Campus

Select publications

  • McGoldrick, S. (2026).
    Designing for climate resilience: An integrated studio approach., EDRA National Conference, Amherst, MA, May 28, 2026.
  • McGoldrick, S. (2026, May).
    Designing dynamic, transformative, and responsive spaces through light.
    Delve Magazine, 31-35.
  • McGoldrick, S. (2026).
    Interdisciplinary intersections: Designing beyond the building.,  IDEC National Conference, Chicago, IL, March 16-19, 2026.
  • McGoldrick, S. (2026).
    Impactful community-based design projects.
    In V.P. Duvallon (Ed.), Making design public: Education beyond the studio. Cambridge Scholars Publishing., 192-215.

Stephanie McGoldrick is an Assistant Professor of Interior Architecture + Design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she has taught since 2018 . She brings extensive industry experience from her role as a Design Project Manager working on museum retail and cafe projects for Smithsonian Enterprises to apply to her academic and community initiatives. Her research and teaching focus on sustainable design, lighting design, universal design, and community-engaged learning.

Professor McGoldrick is the recipient of prestigious national and institutional honors, including being named the 2026 American Society for Interior Designers (ASID) National Educator of the Year and receiving the UMass Dartmouth 2023 Manning Prize for Excellence in Teaching and 2025 Faculty Civic Leadership Award. Her scholarship and creative work encompass numerous national conference presentations, book chapter contributions, and grant-funded initiatives, such as securing a $20,000 Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education Grant to develop online lighting educational resources. She has facilitated placemaking projects across local communities and actively drives professional advocacy and engagement, leading the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Lighting Knowledge Network and serving as the Director of Interior Design Advocacy for Rhode Island.

Additional links

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