Nilou Vakil is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Kansas, a licensed architect, and Principal of in situ Design, an award-winning community-oriented architecture and urban design firm. With over two decades of national and international experience, her work focuses on community-engaged design, inclusive pedagogy, and cultural heritage. Vakil teaches advanced design studios, professional practice and ethics, and research seminars on participatory design and educational spaces. She has been recognized nationally for her contributions to architectural education, receiving multiple national awards and being named one of the Top 25 Most Admired Architecture Educators by DesignIntelligence.