Nancy Richardson Design Center RDC Staff

As part of a small team that eventually involved over 90 students, faculty, and industry partners, Laura helped bring the Nancy Richardson Design Center to life. Her work in the early visioning stages, through to the design and construction of our iconic building, provide the foundation for her vision and goals for the RDC’s future. In addition to serving as the inaugural director for the RDC, Laura is an associate professor of Interior Architecture and Design in the Department of Design and Merchandising, which is also located in Nancy Richardson Design Center.

Laura lives and breathes creativity and design thinking. She is a registered architect and cognitive scientist with numerous awards for design teaching and research excellence in creativity. She holds an undergraduate degree in architecture and art history from Rice University, an M.Ed. in educational technology from the University of Texas, and a joint Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in design and planning through the College of Architecture and Planning and cognitive science through the Institute of Cognitive Science.

Determined to be an architect, Laura started drawing house plans on graph paper at age 6. By 13, she was ripping out plaster walls and hanging drywall in a storage area of her family’s 100-year-old farmhouse so she could have her own bedroom.

Contact: laura.malinin@colostate.edu

Sarah earned her doctorate from CSU in 2017. In her studies, she focused on measuring creative synthesis processes, where thinking transforms into doing. This is the basis of Design Thinking and why Sarah is such a perfect fit for the RDC.

Leading the Design Thinking Certificate program, Sarah not only teaches but also oversees academics related to delivery, oversight, and evaluation of design center workshops, classes, certificates, and future programming. Additionally, she develops not-for-credit short courses, tutorials and executive education programming.

However, Sarah’s primary focus is to manage the planning and organizing of financial, human, and inventory resources for the RDC. Which is to say she knows everything about this facility and holds the master key.

Sarah has a saltwater fish tank in her office and enough plants to supply a week’s worth of oxygen. Maybe that’s why she never leaves.

Contact: sarah.badding@colostate.edu

In 2013, Paul Callahan earned an MFA in ceramics from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He stayed at LSU for the next five years teaching art, architecture, and interior design. Additionally, he was part of the leadership team for the Design Shop, Fabrication Factory, and Ceramics Factory. His personal research focuses on object making and hybrid use of analog and digital tools. As an instructor, his coursework has spanned, ceramics, metal, wood, and digital fabrication tools, including software and hardware.

As the Fabrication Labs Coordinator for the RDC, Paul provides training and supervision of students. As functional support for faculty, Paul has oversight of daily operations in the Wood, Metal and Prototyping Labs. Additionally, he facilitates inter-departmental collaboration as the RDC expands to include a wide range of resources and tools available to CSU faculty and students as well as the broader community.

Paul has made more than 5,000 pieces of pottery and won less than 50 competitive beach volleyball tournaments. Being 6’5″ is more applicable to the latter.

Contact: paul.callahan@colostate.edu

Second Bachelors Candidate in Interior Architecture and Design

Combining Equine Science and Business with Interior Architecture and Design is how Annie likes to do CSU. After working as a project manager for a cloud-based software company for four years, Annie decided to come back to CSU for her second Bachelors. All this is to say Annie is wicked smart and highly capable of coordinating the many moving parts for the RDC.

Annie is the one to call to book an event, get on a tour or learn more about the resources available at RDC. She’ll also be the one to greet you with a smile when you stop by our offices on the third floor of the Nancy Richardson Design Center.

Whether it’s golfing or fishing, skiing or snowmobiling, Annie likes to be outside year-round. She also has a collection of pets named Cooper, Diesel, Simba, and Quigley.

Contact: annie.pault@colostate.edu

Senior majoring in Graphic Design and Electronic Art

A native to Fort Collins, Brendan is currently studying Graphic Design and Electronic Art at CSU. His focus on Virtual Reality development and Digital Fabrication techniques makes him the ideal lab technician for the RDC’s cutting edge technology in 3D printing and laser cutting.

With his training and knowledge of the equipment in the Prototyping Lab, Brendan will serve as a monitor to assist students during classes as well as open access hours. His duties include enforcing safety policies, inventory tracking, and equipment maintenance.

If Brendan isn’t geeking out on technology and design, he can be found ripping it on local ski slopes.

Contact: brendan.kelley@colostate.edu

First year Masters in Fine Art

Leila knows how to wield a torch and rip boards, which is exactly why students can look to her for assistance in the Wood and Metal Shops. Leila will be monitoring students during classes as well as overseeing tool and equipment use.

Previous to her time at CSU, Leila earned a BFA from Michigan State University and a MA from Eastern Illinois University. She has exhibited work in both regional and international exhibitions and has contributed to multiple public works in Michigan.

Half-Persian and a pescatarian, Leila will begin her MFA by sculpting only objects and concepts that begin with the letter P.

Contact: leila.malekadeli@colostate.edu

Senior majoring in Apparel and Merchandising

Payton started his first business at age 21 designing, creating and selling vinyl stickers. As a senior studying Apparel and Merchandising with a concentration in Apparel Design and Production, his skills are put to use in the Prototyping Lab with the textile printers, industrial sewing machines and vinyl cutter.

As a Lab Technician, Payton will ensure safety requirements are followed, assist with equipment and provide encouragement with a welcomed positive perspective.

Payton enjoys inline skating and computer building which makes him cool in the eyes of his mom.

Contact: payton.gonzales@colostate.edu