Douglas Burleson, associate architecture professor and faculty member for diversity research at Auburn University, began his college career in 1966 at the University of the Americas with a main focus on the studies in philosophy. In 1972, he graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor of environmental design.

From there, he went on to further his studies at Rice University and graduated in 1974 with a master of architecture. Though structural design is his passion, in 1997, he graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a master of theology.

Through Burleson’s years of schooling he found something that caught his passion, diversity. Burleson studies cultural diversity and the difficulty of it being taught. His representative research at Auburn University includes: Influence of gender diversity in the design of built environments and psyche diversity regarding creativity, academic performance measurement and success.

Diversity research is important to Burleson because, “if we are able to better understand the implications of diversity then we will be able to allow for diversity.” Burleson said, “I don’t think it is well understood. We have traditionally put people in the same mold and we have not adjusted it for the diversity we have encountered. Because of that we have not been able to benefit some of the students we have come across.”

Burleson wants to help adjust Auburn to become fit for everyone. His research is working to help faculty alter their teachings so that every student gets the most out of what they are learning. His research began with selecting students that came into the architecture program. He did this because there is a reasonably narrow mold those students fit into. This mold made him curious to see why students fit into this particular form. He wanted to know if it was because of how the students evolved or because of what their background consisted of. The other aspect that got Burleson involved in his research was creativity, and helping students access their creativity.

Diversity to Burleson is being able to become who you are. “Everyone is different,” he said, “therefore everyone learns differently.” That is why we must adjust and discover how to help people learn in different ways.

Burleson looks forward to the conference and the positive effects that will bring. Auburn University will host a Diversity Research conference, “Understanding Differences that Matter: Diversity research at Auburn University” on Oct. 29 – 30, 2008 at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center. Featured inaugural speakers include Patricia Arredondo and Elijah Anderson. This conference is sponsored by the Research Initiative for the Study of Diversity.

Burleson believes the confrence Auburn’s conference is a good opportunity for people with similar values or concerns to come together, learn from each other and work together to become more aware of what is going on and how to better each student individually. “It establishes a presence for that concern,” he said, “that diversity is being addressed, and diversity is important to us.”

“I don’t believe in the notion that you can be whatever you want to be,” Burleson said, “but I do believe that if you can learn to actualize who you are, then who you are is the best person and the greatest thing you can be.”




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