Sharon E. Sutton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharon Egretta Sutton
Alma mater	Manhattan School of Music, University of Hartford Columbia University, City University of New York
Scientific career
Institutions	Pratt Institute, Columbia University, University of Cincinnati, University of Michigan, University of Washington

Sharon Egretta Sutton in 2017 at the launch of her book, When Ivory Towers were Black at Columbia University.

Sharon Egretta Sutton (born in 1941) is an American architect, teacher, artist, and author. She is known for her work that helps communities design better places. She focuses on working with young people and groups who might not always have a say. She is now a professor emerita at the University of Washington. In 1984, she made history. She became the first African American woman to be a full professor in an architecture program. This happened while she was teaching at the University of Michigan. She has also taught at Parsons School of Design and Columbia University.

Early Life and Education

Sharon Egretta Sutton was born in 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She started piano lessons at age 5. Her teacher was the organist at her mother's church. At that time, many places were segregated. This meant Black people could not go to the same swimming pools, skating rinks, or movie theaters as white people.

In high school, she learned to play the French horn. All students at her school had to study an art form. She first studied music at the Manhattan School of Music in 1959. Then, she went to the Hartt College of Music. She earned her bachelor's degree there in 1963.

After college, Sutton worked as a professional musician in New York City. She performed in symphony orchestras and at Radio City Music Hall. She was also part of the original cast of the Broadway show Man of La Mancha. She performed in over a thousand shows!

In 1967, Sutton decided to study design at Parsons School of Design. Later, she studied architecture at Columbia University. There, she learned from important architects like J. Max Bond, Jr. and Romaldo Giurgola. She earned her master's degree in architecture in 1973. She then opened her own architecture business in 1976. In 1982, she earned two more degrees in psychology from the City University of New York (CUNY).

Career Highlights

Teaching and Writing

Sharon Sutton's main work is about helping communities design their own spaces. She especially focuses on young people and groups with lower incomes. Her research has received funding from many organizations. These include the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

She is a visiting professor at Parsons School of Design. She is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University. From 1998 to 2016, she taught at the University of Washington. She is now a professor emerita there.

Sutton has written several books. These include When Ivory Towers Were Black (2017). This book tells a story about race in American cities and universities. She also wrote Weaving a Tapestry of Resistance (1996) and Learning through the Built Environment (1985). She has also written many articles and chapters for other books.

Besides her writing, Sutton is a skilled printmaker and collagist. Her artwork has been shown in galleries and museums. It is also part of the Robert Blackburn Collection at the Library of Congress. She works to improve living spaces for people who are often overlooked. She is an expert consultant for design studios at Parsons School of Design. Much of her work explores America's ongoing journey for racial fairness.

Architecture Achievements

Sharon Sutton is a registered architect. In 1976, she became the twelfth African American woman to get her architecture license. In 1994, she was the first to become a full professor of architecture. In 1995, she was the second African American woman to become a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). This is a very high honor.

She received the ACSA Distinguished Professor Award in 1995–96. The Michigan Women's Hall of Fame gave her a "Life Recognition Award" in 1997. In 2011, she received the national American Institute of Architects Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award. She also received the Medal of Honor from AIA Seattle in 2014 and AIA New York in 2017. These are the highest awards from those local chapters.

Sutton started her architecture practice in New York City. She also began teaching at Pratt Institute and Columbia University. She later moved to the University of Cincinnati. Then, she was invited to teach at the University of Michigan. There, she became the first African American woman to be a full professor of architecture. She was also the first to lead the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

Later, Sutton became a professor at the University of Washington. There, she led a study on how young people from low-income families get involved in their communities. This work helped her earn the AIA Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award. While in Seattle, she served on the Seattle Design Commission. She also led the Capitol Hill Design Review Board. These public service roles earned her the AIA Seattle Chapter Community Service award and Medal of Honor.

Books by Sharon E. Sutton

• Sutton, Sharon E., "Pedagogy of a Beloved Commons: Pursuing Democracy's Promise through Place-Based Activism," Fordham University Press, New York, 2023.
• Sutton, Sharon E., "When Ivory Towers Were Black: A Story about Race in America's Cities and Universities," Fordham University Press, New York, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-823-27612-7
• Sutton, Sharon E., and Kemp, Susan P., editors, The Paradox of Urban Space: Inequality and Transformation in Marginalized Communities, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-230-10391-7
• Sutton, Sharon E., Weaving a Tapestry of Resistance: The Places, Power, and Poetry of a Sustainable Society, Bergin and Garvey Publishers, Westport, 1996.
• Sutton, Sharon E., Learning through the Built Environment: An Ecological Approach to Child Development, Irvington Press, New York, 1985.

Awards and Honors

• 2024 American Academy of Arts and Letters Architecture Department inductee
• 2023 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education Award
• 2023 Architectural Record Women in Architecture Design Leadership Award
• 2020 Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation Oculus
• 2017 American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter Medal of Honor Award
• 2014 American Institute of Architects, Seattle Chapter Medal of Honor Award
• 2011 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award
• 2006 American Architectural Foundation K-12 Architectural Education Award of Merit for CEEDS
• 2005 American Institute of Architects (AIA), Seattle Chapter Community Service Award
• 1999 Jeannette and David McKinley Fellowship Faculty Research Support
• 1997 Michigan Women's Hall of Fame Life Recognition Award
• 1996 Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor Award
• 1995 American Institute of Architects Elevation to Fellowship
• 1992 University of Michigan Regents Award for Distinguished Public Service
• 1991 American Planning Association Education Award for Teaching the Public about Planning
• 1989 UM School of Business Administration First Round Award, National Zell Lurie Fellowship
• 19861989 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Group VII National Fellowship
• 1983 National Endowment for the Arts Design Research Recognition Award

See Also

• African-American architects
• Charles F. McAfee