Super Jury is an annual celebration of the top thesis projects presented by graduate students in their final semester of their Masters program. In the past, the event has been a day's worth of presentations by Thesis Two students who were selected based on the scores given to them after their initial Thesis reviews. This year, Super Jury was a panel discussion that included esteemed professionals and some alumni who spoke alongside Dean Mark Ferguson and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Thesis Coordinator Elizabeth Emerson.
Seventeen Thesis Two students were selected to be recognized for Super Jury. From the 2024 Fall reviews, Nick Davis, Ane Djadou, Matthew Kositzin, Mark Pioch, and Patrick Whalen; from the 2025 Spring reviews, Maria Amare, Hunter Dawiczyk, Sanaa Dukes, Jake Eaton, Muhammad Ataul Gani, Grace Hausladen, Cole Hollier, Vincente Johnson, Melissa Kazanci, Victoria Riggle, Glenda Rojas and Lauren Thompson.
These students had projects that were considered to be among the top of their class, being recognized for their achievement in research and design. The jury chose two first place winners and one special commendation out of the seventeen, for projects that stood out the most in terms of quality and overall excellence.
The Special Commendation was awarded to Sanaa Dukes for her project: Cultivation of Place: A People-Centered, Climate-Resilient New Orleans.
Cultivation of Place: A People-Centered, Climate-Resilient New Orleans
"To dwell is not merely to remain in place, but to cherish, protect, and nourish—to cultivate the land and tend the vine. This deeper meaning must be reawakened in urban spaces through design rooted in place: mindful of horticulture, responsive to climate, and grounded in cultural memory. This thesis applies these principles in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Emphasizing the area’s deep West African heritage, it proposes an Asante Revival architecture, one that merges tradition with resilience to foster a lasting sense of place."
Advisor: Christopher J. Howard
First place was awarded to Maria Amare for her project: The Holy Monastery of Our Lady the Theotokos.
The Holy Monastery of Our Lady the Theotokos
“This thesis proposes an Ethiopian Orthodox Monastery in Washington, D.C. The aim is to revive the architecture of Classical Ethiopia while drawing upon monastic traditions of the East and West in the picturesque setting of Olmsted’s Rock Creek Park. Just as the great edifices of Rome and Byzantium shaped Early Christian architecture, so too may the Aksumite Empire contribute to those who seek the ancient faith in the modern world. The Holy Monastery of Our Lady the Theotokos intends to serve as a place of intentional solitude for monks and the faithful and also act as a spiritual beacon for the two million annual visitors to Rock Creek Park.”
Advisor: Christopher J. Howard
First place was awarded to Muhammad Ataul Gani for his project: Addressing Homelessness: No One Left Without a Home. Muhammad's project was also featured in University Research Day, winning the award for Best Poster: Graduate Student.
Addressing Homelessness: No One Left Without a Home
"‘On a single night in 2023, roughly 653,100 people – or about 20 of every 10,000 people in the United States – were experiencing homelessness’ The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
My research focuses on chronically homeless men who are Black African American, aged 55 or older, and unsheltered. This research lays the foundation for designing a new housing model for unsheltered chronically homeless (UCH) individuals. By integrating social, economic, and environmental factors, this thesis envisions a future where no one is left without a home and communities are empowered to support their most vulnerable members."
Advisor: Patricia Andrasik
Congratulations to all of our Thesis Two graduates, and special thanks to all who have supported them on their educational journey at Catholic University!
Thank you to our panelists who participated in this year's Super Jury:
Ankie Barnes, Barnes Vance Architects / *Siobhan Burke, Lyric Design & Planning, 99 Neighborhoods Network / Carie A. Penabad, University of Miami / *Dan Jonas Roche, Architect’s Newspaper / Robert Adam, Robert Adam Architect (UK) / Gary Brewer, Gary Brewer Architect / Rudolphe Al-Khoury, dean, University of Miami School of Architecture and Planning / Duncan Stroik, University of Notre Dame / *Michael Marshall, Michael Marshall Design / Carl Elefant, Principal Emeritus, Quinn Evens Architect (*denotes CUA alumni)
To watch the full livestream, head to our YouTube account.