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The University of New Mexico

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Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu

Nov. 22, 2007

Merdler Inducted Into Honor Society at UNM
Tau Sigma Delta honors top 20 percent of students of architecture and allied arts

Kristi Michelle Merdler, a 1993 Santa Fe High School graduate, was recently inducted into Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society at the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning. The school’s dean, Roger Schluntz, announced induction of eight graduate and two undergraduate students into UNM’s Gamma Lambda chapter of the national organization.

Tau Sigma Delta National Honor Society is the only honor society recognized in the fields of architecture and the allied arts, which includes landscape architecture and community and regional planning.

Merdler, daughter of Stephen and Margaret Merdler, will receive her master’s degree in architecture in December. She earned her undergraduate degree in criminology from UNM in 1997.

“I always longed to follow my father – a designer in Santa Fe –but chose a different path of study as an undergraduate. After graduation, I became more interested in design and architecture through photography and travel. I began my architectural education at the Santa Fe Community College by taking some introductory classes in design, CAD and art,” she said.

After three semesters at SFCC, she applied to various architecture schools to continue her studies with one goal in mind – to become an architect.

Within the next six months Merdler plans to begin an internship with a firm in Santa Fe to become better informed about the field and practice of architecture as well as to prepare for the architecture licensing exam.

Although her father was her original inspiration, Merdler had another mentor.

“Deborah Auten, an architect in Santa Fe, has been my mentor since I began my graduate studies at UNM. She has offered me ideas and suggestions regarding school, my work, internship decisions as well as informing me about her practice and her philosophy,” Merdler said.

Tau Sigma Delta, founded in 1913 at the University of Michigan, is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, giving Tau Sigma Delta the high rating of most distinguished honor societies in other educational fields.

Inducted students, who are nominated by the director of their respective programs, are in the top 20 percent of their class.

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