Episode 3: Underserved | Changing Lives Through Interior Design

Welcome back to BOOST! This episode highlights the role of interior design in North Carolina's underserved communities. Our featured guest is Shelby S. Hicks, MFA, an Associate Professor of Interior Design at Western Carolina University (WCU). Shelby combines her 30 years of professional experience in design with a unique background as a Licensed Practical Nurse. While her passion lies in exploring the impact of the built environment on health, safety, and wellness, her research and course projects address housing issues related to poverty and substandard living conditions for elderly community members. In 2019, she founded the Design for Health initiative, bringing together an interdisciplinary team to tackle these critical health challenges. Check out her publication here: Interior Design: Living in Poverty and the Absence of Health, Safety, and Welfare.