Interior Design: About the Instructors

About the Certificate Program (main)
Course Descriptions (all)
Academic-Year Courses (Fall, Spring)
Summer Courses
About the Instructors

Ian Carnow is a summa cum laude graduate of the New York Institute of Technology, where he received his bachelor’s degree in architecture and the Matthew W. Del Gaudio award for demonstrated excellence. Carnow became an accredited LEED AP in 2008 and is currently working toward completing the NCARB architectural registration exam. He has worked for the past 13 years at the architectural firm Neil Carnow, designing a wide range of residential and commercial buildings throughout the tristate area.

Al D’Elia Information coming soon!

Meg Deshpande has a fine arts degree in interior design and is NCIDQ-certified. She has worked in both the residential and commercial design industry for more than 20 years in various interior design and architectural firms in New York City and Chicago. She owns and operates her own firm, Meg Deshpande Design, in Larchmont, N.Y., where she provides comprehensive design services, including the planning, design, and construction management for residential and commercial clients.

Nairn Friemann holds a BA, MBA, and certification in floral design from the New York Botanical Garden, in addition to the CSP® designation. Recently named “Professional Stager of the Year” by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), she has staged more than $500 million in real estate and has been featured on television and in numerous newspapers and magazines.

George Gaspar, an architect with Grandberg and Associates in Mt. Kisco, has been a registered architect in New York since 1993. Currently president of the American Institute of Architects Westchester + Hudson Valley Chapter, he has varied professional experience in residential, custom, and production homebuilding, and architecture (from commercial to hospitality), developing both restaurant and nightclub environments. Gaspar is associated with Habitat for Humanity Putnam County, designing new residences and renovating homes for families in need.

Linda Gauvin is managing partner of the Westchester-based staging company Winning Transformations. As a Certified Staging Professional®, she collaborates with homeowners and real estate agents in transforming properties for maximum selling appeal. A graduate of Boston University, she has more than 15 years experience in advertising, marketing, and design. After being a full-time mom, she turned a hobby of real estate staging and investing into a successful new career. Gauvin has partnered with Jan Maresh, co-author of Home Staging for Dummies, on a staging seminar based on the book.

Penny Howell grew up in Wales and came to New York as a production assistant on the Broadway show Equus. While working on that show, she studied at the Studio & Forum of Stage Design and designed costumes for numerous dance companies and Off-Broadway shows. After moving to Westchester in 1997, she opened her drapery workroom and now creates window treatments for several interior designers and for private clients.

Carol J.W. Kurth, FAIA, is an architect and allied member of ASID, a LEED AP, and principal of the award-winning firm Carol Kurth Architecture PC | Carol Kurth Interiors LTD. She is a cum laude graduate and former faculty member of the Spitzer School of Architecture, City University of New York. Prominently featured in such publications as The New York Times, Luxe Magazine, and This Old House, her projects have been widely acclaimed and exhibited internationally.

Mary Boyd Linderman is the principal of Mary Boyd Design, a residential design firm that specializes in the renovation and restoration of historic homes. A graduate of the New York School of Interior Design and University of Delaware, Linderman spent two decades renovating historic homes with modern innovations that honor the integrity of the original structures. Before forming Mary Boyd Design, she worked at HB Home in Westport and Greenwich, Conn.

Lisa McTernan, a professional in the interior design industry for more than 20 years, is the owner of Lifestyles & Interiors by Lisa, a “Best Of Westchester” retail store and design studio that manages projects including renovations, additions, and all aspects of interior design. She has participated in multiple designer showhouses, including the Madam C.J. Walker House, for which she was featured on HGTV.

Dennis Noskin Information coming soon!

Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, ISDA, is principal and owner of RPF Design Studio LLC, a multidisciplinary design firm specializing in interior, landscape, and product design. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Pratt Institute, holding degrees in both fashion and industrial design. She is currently a faculty member at Pratt in multiple departments and a former faculty member at Parsons the New School for Design. Her design work has been featured in national and international publications.

Dianne Pierce holds an MA in the history of design and decorative arts and a certificate in interior design from Parsons the New School for Design and a bachelor’s degree in architectural history from the University of Virginia. She is an adjunct instructor at State University of New York, New Paltz, where she has taught History of Modern Design, Museum Studies, History of Decorative Arts, and Arts of the 18th Century. She is also a part-time faculty member at Parsons the New School for Design.

Teal Postula Information coming soon!

Arielle B. Schraeter holds a BA in art history from Hamilton College and an MA in the history of decorative arts and design from Parsons the New School for Design. She currently works at the Whitney Museum of American Art and has previously taught at Parsons. She has held positions at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Salon 94, Sotheby’s, Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute, and Christie’s.

Updated April 19, 2013