Dr. Margaret Konkel is an Associate Professor, MFA Design Thinking and Program Coordinator for the Interior Design Program at Radford University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Language and Literature from the College of William and Mary, an MFA in Interior Design from the Academy of Art University, and an Individual Interdisciplinary PhD from Montana State University. Her scholarly research focuses on the pedagogy of design thinking in higher education, especially as related to interdisciplinary wicked problem-solving. She is LEED AP and NCIDQ certified with over twelve years of commercial interior design practice. Dr. Konkel is the daughter of former R-MA trustee, Mr. William G. Thomas ‘57, who passed away in 2020, and his wife Mrs. Suzanne Thomas, a longtime friend of the Academy.