Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

12/7/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Northwestern State University will present an honorary doctorate of humanities to Norman Koonce, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Institute of Architects during fall commencement exercises Friday, Dec. 14.

Koonce will also be the speaker at the 3 p.m. graduation ceremony for students receiving degrees from the College of Business, College of Science and Technology, Louisiana Scholars' College and the University College. Dr. Sally Clausen, president of the University of Louisiana System, will speak to graduates from the Colleges of Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing and the Graduate School at the 10 a.m. ceremony.

Koonce has been in his present position for three years. He is a passionate advocate of the power of architecture to elevate and enrich the human experience. Koonce encourages the staff and management team of the AIA's national component to employ the design process to create innovative programs and services aimed at empowering our members.

A Natchitoches native, Koonce earned his degree from Louisiana State University. Koonce began practice following a tour in the U.S. Air Force that included studies at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He became president of the American Architectural Foundation in 1989 after 28 years of diverse practice in the Bogalusa architecture firm of which he was a founding partner. The firm focused on the design of religious and educational facilities as well as other institutional and commercial projects.

While heading the AAF, the organization undertook a successful capital campaign that enabled award-winning authentic restoration of the Octagon, first national headquarters of the AIA. During that period, the Foundation generated extensive K-12 education initiatives for its Learning by Design program and refined the AIA/AAF Accent on Architecture program to include PBS television programming and component grants. The organization also coordinated the development of the Boyer Report and provided management of the Mayors' Institute on City Design for the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Koonce's previous involvement in AIA leadership includes a term as a national vice president in 1987-88 after serving on the Board as a director representing the Gulf States region. he was elected president of AIA Louisiana in 1982. In 1998, Koonce was the recipient of the AIA Edward C. Kemper Award. Last year, he was awarded the AIA Louisiana Medal of Honor.

While living in Bogalusa, Koonce chaired the city planning commission for six years, co-authored the city's home-rule charter and provided leadership in his church. Koonce also led in the establishment of two city economic development organizations while serving on the Governor's Committee of One Hundred. He has served on the national boards of the St. Paul's Cathedral Trust in America, the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture and the Campfire Girls organization. He sits on the boards of the Boyer Center for Advanced Studies and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training which is headquartered on the Northwestern campus.

Koonce lives in McLean, Va. with his wife Suzanne. The Koonces have four married daughters and 12 grandchildren.

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