An Oklahoma State University professor is taking his passion for civic architecture to an international stage after being named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for 2026-27.

Professor Seung Ra, a professor in the School of Architecture in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, will travel to Taiwan for a year of research and teaching. The prestigious award marks a milestone for SOA, as the last time an SOA faculty member was named a Fulbright Scholar was in 1989. Being part of the tradition after more than three decades carries real weight for Ra.

“It’s an honor to represent the school in this way,” Ra said.

Ra has been at OSU for over 16 years, and the award brings together several lines of work he has been developing throughout his academic career — civic architecture, AI-enabled urban design and tactical urbanism.

“The timing feels particularly fitting, as my research, teaching and international networks have all come together around this work,” Ra said.

During his residency, Ra will examine three major transportation hubs — Keelung Port, Taoyuan Aerotropolis and the Taipei West District Gateway — as civic architectures that shape urban identity and resilience. In partnership with National Taipei University and Taiwan Tech, he will lead a graduate design studio exploring the cultural and environmental roles of these gateways. The work will be shared through bilingual exhibitions, community dialogues and a participatory tool called a “Gateway Atlas.” The goal, Ra says, is to reframe infrastructure as a site of civic meaning.

Ra hopes the institutional relationships built in Taiwan will have lasting benefits for OSU, opening pathways for student and faculty exchange and strengthening SOA’s presence in global design conversations. The methods, case studies and partnerships developed abroad will inform future studios, seminars and study-abroad programming upon his return.

“Students need to understand that design is a form of cultural research,” Ra said. “The most effective architects read contexts, navigate competing values, and generate knowledge through the act of designing. Cultural intelligence is central to that process.”

The Fulbright Scholar Program is among the most competitive academic fellowships in the world. Administered by the Institute of International Education, its alumni have earned 63 Nobel Prizes, 98 Pulitzer Prizes and 83 MacArthur Fellowships. Research has consistently shown that Fulbright experiences lead to greater international co-publication and sustained scholarly exchange.

Ra expressed gratitude to Dr. Randy Kluver, dean of OSU Global, Professor Nathan Richardson, school head for SOA, and Professor Sarah Ra for their support and advocacy throughout the application process.

Story By: Marianne Phu | mphu@okstate.edu