Professor Elgin Cleckley of the University of Virginia Named 2025 PAVE Global Educator of the Year

PAVE Global is pleased to announce Professor Elgin Cleckley, NOMA, Associate Professor of Architecture, Undergraduate Program Director, and Director of _mpathic design at the University of Virginia School of Architecture, as the recipient of the Fourth Annual PAVE Global Educator of the Year Award, presented by Chipman Design Architecture. This prestigious honor celebrates full-time educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication to design education, leadership, and the development of future design professionals.

“Elgin Cleckley equips future architects to lead with empathy. Through _mpathic design, he gives students tools to uncover untold stories and design for inclusion, shaping a generation committed to meaningful and socially responsible practice,” said Lauren Chipman, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Chipman Design Architecture.

Professor Cleckley’s influence at UVA is described by students as transformational, rigorous, and deeply human. His teaching approach uses design as a means to understand history, community, and lived experience, empowering students to see their work as both creative expression and civic responsibility.

Students consistently highlight how he reshapes their understanding of what design can be. One student reflected that in his _mpathic design course, Cleckley “empowered students to think critically about embodied experiences of architecture,” using simple but powerful demonstrations to shift their perspective. Teaching assistants described watching students “grow in confidence and design intention” as he pushed them to communicate ideas visually and verbally with clarity and purpose.

Students also note how he connects them to meaningful, real-world impact. A former student shared that Cleckley “works relentlessly to connect student work with the professional world, even if that means using his own funds,” while another described his studios as spaces where “design becomes a way to understand people, history, and culture with compassion.” Many credit him with opening doors they never imagined possible. One student wrote, “I would not be the person I am today without Elgin’s guidance,” and another shared that participating in his projects provided “the first time my work was exhibited on an international stage,” referring to student involvement in the acclaimed installation Brookes (Revisited), now part of the permanent collection at the Royal Museums Greenwich National Maritime Museum.

Excerpt from the portfolio of Professor Elgin Cleckley, NOMA

Within the School of Architecture, Cleckley has played a major role in reshaping the undergraduate curriculum, guiding faculty and students through a more inclusive and process-driven approach to the fundamentals of architecture. Students describe his leadership as “grounded in integrity, humility, and a deep commitment to equity,” emphasizing how his influence has shifted the culture of the program toward empathy, community engagement, and design excellence. His mentorship has helped students gain admission to top graduate programs, secure research positions, and begin meaningful careers rooted in community-responsive values.

Professor Cleckley will be honored at the 27th Annual PAVE Gala on December 11, 2025, where he will receive a $3,000 grant, and the University of Virginia School of Architecture will receive a $1,500 grant and travel support to attend the Gala in NYC.

He now joins the distinguished group of past PAVE Global Educator of the Year honorees:

• 2024 – Professor Mark Mappala, Bellevue College

• 2023 – Professor Rebekah Matheny, The Ohio State University

• 2022 – Professor Nea Maloo, Howard University

PAVE Global extends its sincere appreciation to Chipman Design Architecture for presenting the 2025 PAVE Global Educator of the Year Award, and to the distinguished 2025 award judges for their thoughtful review and service:

Thank you to our 2025 Judges (alphabetical):

• Jowita Abbott, NELSON Worldwide

• Lauren Chipman, Principal and CEO, Chipman Design Architecture

• Kate Kyungha Lee, Arcadis

• Daniel Montaño Leon, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting

• Rebekah Matheny, The Ohio State University, 2023 PAVE Educator of the Year

For more information on the PAVE Educator of the Year Award and to view past honorees, please visit www.paveglobal.org/educatoraward

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About PAVE Global

Founded in 1992 as The Planning and Visual Education Partnership, PAVE Global is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, with all proceeds benefitting PAVE's educational programs. The organization enables young talent to build successful careers designing and creating consumer environments. Our vision is to cultivate relationships with students, educators, and the design industry through financial assistance, top-industry thinking, inspiration, and mentorship.

For more information, please visit www.paveglobal.org.