Christy Somerville

Education

Fullerton College
B.S. Environmental Factors: Interiors, California State University - Long Beach
M.A. Environmental Factors: Interiors, California State University - Long Beach

Other

Memberships: Allied Education Member, American Society of Interior Designers, ASID Board Member, Connecticut Coalition of Interior Designers, CCID Corporate Member, Interior Design Educators Council, IDEC Member, Greater New Haven Arts Council.

Christy Somerville is an Assistant Professor of Interior Design with twenty years of professional practice and teaching experience. She came to UNH in 1996 with a vision of creating an outstanding interior design program that would provide a unique body of local, national and international Interior Design students the opportunity to meet the design needs of a global community.

In 1997 she worked with the students to establish a Student Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, (ASID). The Student Chapter's activities and commitment to the profession were acknowledged when it was awarded the 1997-1998 National ASID Outstanding Student Chapter Award. Professor Somerville has worked with the CT ASID Professional Chapter, interior designers, architects and industry representatives in Connecticut and New York to build an internship program, career-job fair program and a Speakers Network.

Current activities include the revision of the Interior Design Program to meet the Accreditation Standards of the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research, (FIDER). New courses have been established with an accomplished list of adjunct design professionals providing students with the opportunity to integrate design theories with professional practice. Professor Somerville is a licensed Interior Designer in Connecticut. She is professionally active as an Allied Member of the ASID CT Professional Chapter and serves as a faculty liaison to the chapter. In 1997 she received the President's Award for Outstanding Service to the chapter. She is also a board member of the Connecticut Coalition of Interior Designers, which seeks to promote the profession of Interior Design and establish right-to-practice laws in Connecticut.

Prior to coming to UNH, Professor Somerville was employed by Cama, Inc. in New Haven, CT where she served as project manager for Cheseborough-Ponds USA and worked on various healthcare projects. During the early 1980's she established a private practice in California providing consulting services for Corporate Office design. Professor Somerville is a Corporate Member of the Interior Design Educators Council, (IDEC). Current educational interests and research include activities in K-12 education.

Following the Interior Design Educators Council call to establish an awareness of interior design relevance and career opportunities for tomorrow's consumers and future interior designers, Professor Somerville is working with several school systems in Connecticut to meet this challenge. She is a member of the Amity Regional School System's Career Program committee and is collaborating with Plainville High School technical education and consumer science programs. In addition she is often a guest speaker in the Orange Elementary School System providing fourth through sixth graders with an awareness of three-dimensional design, interior design and architecture.

Past research studies include ergonomics and the impact of the computer workstation on users and the impact of hormones on the spatial abilities of females. Professor Somerville became an interior design instructor in 1979, teaching in the California Community College System. In 1984 she moved to Connecticut and has taught at Paier College of Art, Inc., the University of Bridgeport and Albertus Magnus College. Throughout her career she has integrated her love of the interior design practice with a passion for teaching and working with students.