Anna Ibru is an Interdisciplinary Design and Media PhD candidate at Northeastern University’s College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) in Boston, working across history, policy, design, and preservation. She holds a Master of Public Policy from Northeastern, with a concentration in Sustainability and Climate Change Policy, and a Bachelor of Architecture (cum laude) with a minor in the History of Architecture & Design from the University of Arkansas.
Her doctoral research examines British colonial bungalows in post-colonial Nigeria as contested heritage sites, exploring how these structures can be reinterpreted beyond their colonial origins. She develops multi-faceted approaches that confront post-colonial trauma while informing preservation strategies. Her work contributes to decolonial heritage practices and inclusive urban development.
Anna has presented her research at international conferences, including iNTA (Tropical Architecture) in Honolulu, London Heritages at the University of Greenwich, and Cumulus in Antwerp, with work on community visions for heritage in Lagos, Nigeria, scheduled for “Heritage(s): Cultural Pasts – Urban Futures” in Istanbul. Her scholarship has been recognized with the Society of Architectural Historians Annual Conference Student Diversity Fellowship and the John G. Williams Joy of Architecture Medal.
Research/Publications Highlights
Ibru, A. “From Colonial Past to Urban Future: Community Visions for Heritage in Lagos, Nigeria.” Heritage(s) 2026, Istanbul (forthcoming, July 2026)
Ibru, A. “Reclaiming Tropical Design Intelligence: Climate-Responsive Lessons from Nigerian (British) Colonial Bungalows for Contemporary Adaptive Reuse.” 9th iNTA Conference (December 2025)
Ibru, A. “Scar or School?: A Nigerian Perspective on Preservation of British Colonial-Era Bungalows.” London Heritages 2025, University of Greenwich (June 2025)
Ibru, A. “Decoloniality and Healing: Confronting Inter-generational Trauma/Ideologies Through Architectural Preservation and Education.” Cumulus Antwerp Conference (April 2023)
Departments
Interdisciplinary, Architecture
Education
- PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Design and Media, Northeastern University
- Master of Public Policy, Northeastern University
- Bachelor of Architecture (cum laude), University of Arkansas
Awards
- Society of Architectural Historians Annual Conference Student Diversity Fellowship (2021)
- John G. Williams Joy of Architecture Medal, Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design (2020)
- Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design’s first Student Fellow to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Conference, University of Arkansas (2019)
- FLAGSHIP U! Leadership Program, University of Arkansas — one of 14 students selected university-wide (2017)
Research Focus
- Contested Heritage
- Colonial & Post-colonial Architecture
- Decolonial Heritage Practices
- Heritage Policy
- Community-Engaged Research
- Adaptive Reuse
Courses Taught
- ARCH 1311 Buildings and Cities, a Global History — Recitation (Instructor)
- ARCH 1310 Buildings and Cities, a Global History (Teaching Assistant)
- ARCH 4433 History of Architecture III (Teaching Assistant)
- ARCH 1222 Design Thinking II (Teaching Assistant)
- ARCH 1015 Fundamental Design Skills (Teaching Assistant)
- ARCH 1025 Fundamental Design Methodology (Teaching Assistant)