Education
Ph.D., Child Development (Designing Developmentally Appropriate Spaces for Children), Virginia Tech
M.S., Architecture (Construction Management), Virginia Tech
M.S., Interior Design, Virginia Tech
B.S., Interior Design, Virginia Tech
Area of Expertise
Dr. Cindy Beacham is the Program Chair of both Interior Design and Design Studies, bringing over 20 years of full-time professional practice in interior design and project management to the design programs. She is committed to helping students become successful design professionals by providing a well-rounded design education and helping them understand the importance of design in everyday living. Her real-world experience informs her academic approach, and provides unending examples for classroom study.
In addition to teaching, her research centers around design pedagogy (how to teach design) and creating appropriate environments for children. With the introduction of the new Design Studies major, she is also working to expand the idea of “design” beyond the context of interiors so that it is understood as a methodology and way of thinking, not just a singular area of study. She has written several published papers and co-authored a textbook titled: “Designing YOUR Future: An Introduction to Career Preparation and Professional Practices in Interior Design”.
Dr. Beacham continues to work beyond the classroom consulting on designs for children and writing books on different areas of design. She is also a professional speaker and facilitator who helps individuals and organizations improve their vision and communication through design thinking.
Related Links
Design Studies Program
Interior Design Program
design MIND Initiative
Odyssey Design Group
Classes
ID 100: Mentoring
ID 110: Introduction to Interior Design
DSGN 495: Design Studies Capstone
ID 225: Space Planning
ID 450: Senior Seminar
ID 455: Contract 2 Studio
