Liz Teston Named Interim Director of the School of Interior Architecture
Dean Jason Young has named Professor as interim director for the School of Interior Architecture, effective July 1.听
A registered interior designer, Fulbright Scholar and Specialist recipient, and nationally recognized academic, Teston joined the school in 2013. Her research and creative practice explore public interiority, atmospheric interiority, and the social and political dimensions of design. Through drawing, making, writing, and collaborative design partnerships, she examines how interiors can shape more equitable, engaging, and human-centered public experiences.听
鈥淟iz has been an invaluable member of our faculty and a thoughtful leader within the school,鈥� said Young. 鈥淗er commitment to academic excellence, student success, and the future of interior architecture makes her exceptionally well positioned to guide the school during this transition.鈥�听
Teston is widely known for advancing the concept of public interiority, which challenges conventional definitions of interior space by exploring how interiors can exist beyond buildings through atmosphere, social interaction, and civic engagement. Her work has been exhibited internationally in cities including Bucharest, Stockholm, Toronto, Venice, Atlanta, Austin, Knoxville, and New York.听
She is the co-author and editor-in-chief of Public Interiority: Exploring Interiors in the Public Realm (Routledge, 2024), which received the 2025 Interior Design Educators Council Book Award. She also initiated and produced the Public Interiority Symposium + Exhibition at the University of Tennessee and is currently completing a forthcoming monograph, The Field Guide to Public Interiority, which documents case studies from cities around the world. Her scholarship has been supported by organizations including the Center for Architecture Foundation, the American Academy in Rome, and the Fulbright Specialist Program.听
Beyond her teaching and scholarship, Teston has demonstrated significant leadership within the profession. She has served as an advisor to student organizations, contributed to national Interior Design Educators Council initiatives, and was appointed to the International Interior Design Association Equity Council’s Education Committee. Her advocacy has helped strengthen connections between academic programs, professional practice, and local communities.听
As interim director, Teston will work closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and industry partners to build on the school鈥檚 strong foundation while supporting ongoing academic, research, and outreach initiatives.听听
鈥淚 am honored to serve the School of Interior Architecture in this role,鈥� said Teston. 鈥淥ur faculty, staff, students, and alumni have created an extraordinary culture of creativity, inquiry, and engagement. I look forward to working alongside them to continue strengthening the school鈥檚 impact and preparing students to lead in a rapidly evolving profession.鈥�听
Teston succeeds Milagros Zingoni, who is completing five years as director of the School of Interior Architecture and will return to the faculty. The college will conduct a national search during the coming academic year to identify the school鈥檚 next permanent director.