We recently spoke to Elizabeth Windel about why she gives back to Gibbs College of Architecture (GCA)! She graduated from OU in 2003 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a minor in Construction Science. She currently runs her own firm, SDG Architects.
What inspired your gift to the GCA?
Giving back has always been important to me. I grew up in a family where service to others was a big focus. I am thankful that I have the chance to give back to GCA.
Who do you hope to support with your gift?
Ultimately, I hope to help all students studying architecture at GCA, but I am mainly focusing on women in architecture. Women are still a minority in this profession and I’d like to work on changing that. Not only am I focusing on women, but I am also looking to support students who come from rural backgrounds. For example, while Ardmore isn’t necessarily rural, it is smaller than Oklahoma City or Tulsa and presents different challenges to students coming from more metropolitan areas.
What excites you most about current efforts/initiatives at GCA?
I appreciate all the work that is being done to give students experience working in the real world. There is so much you can learn from time in an office and dealing with the challenges that brings. Part of the curriculum now incorporates a semester working in an office and I am excited to see how that is helping students transition to life after college.
What other causes are you most passionate about?
One of my favorite programs is Girls on the Run. I was a co-founder of Girls on the Run of Southern Oklahoma in 2013 and it has been something that changed my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my work with Girls on the Run.
What type of legacy would you like to leave?
I hope that my children are proud of me and understand how important it is to give back. I also hope that they, my daughter especially, see that women can do anything they put their minds to.
We also asked Elizabeth to share a bit about her time at OU and where she is now.
Which program did you graduate from?
I graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Construction Science.
What are you most proud of from your time at OU and beyond?
The connections that I made while I was a student at GCA have been very important. Knowing that I can reach out to prior classmates or professors for career and professional advice has been huge for me.
What role are you in now? How did you arrive at your current role?
I am the founder and a principal at SDG Architects. I didn’t ever think that I would own my own firm, but life doesn’t always work out how you planned it! I started SDG in 2009 when I became licensed. I worked on my own for a few years, but once I hired my first employee (a GCA grad!) I haven’t looked back. There are eight of us now, and I am happy to say that seven of the eight are women!
What was it like transitioning out of university and into work-life? What advice would you give current students as they advance into their careers?
I worked part-time while I was in school and I think that helped with my transition. I had also worked full-time for a year at an architecture firm so I had some idea as to what the real world was like. My biggest piece of advice is get involved. Whether it is a professional organization like AIA or volunteering in your local community, it provides a chance for you to meet other people outside of your office and remember that life outside of work is important.
Featured image: Beth Windel shown seated, with her SDG Architects team.