Dr. Marwa Abdelmonem

Specialization

Interior environmental design specializing in residential and healthcare environments.

Education

• Ph.D. in Interior and Environmental Design, Texas Tech University, USA.
• M.Sc. in Environmental Design, Texas Tech University, USA. 
• B.Sc. in Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Egypt.

Biography

Marwa has worked in architectural firms in both Egypt and the US, focusing on residential projects. Her master’s research explored environmental factors in low-income high-rise buildings and their impact on the behavior and well-being of female-headed households. She later earned a Ph.D. in Interior and Environmental Design, specializing in Environmental Gerontology, and has published several academic works in her field.

With over nine years of teaching experience in interior design, Marwa has taught at various levels, from freshmen to seniors, in both the US and Qatar. Her teaching emphasizes the development of critical thinking, as she believes this skill is essential for shaping the next generation of designers. Throughout her academic career, she has focused on fostering students’ growth and encouraging them to engage with design challenges in meaningful ways.

Research Interests

Marwa’s research focuses on the intersection of interior design and human well-being, with a particular emphasis on the integration of AI technologies in healthcare environments. She explores how AI can enhance medical treatments and physician performance, and how healthcare facilities can be adapted to support this evolving technology. A central question in her research is: How can existing healthcare facilities accommodate the increasing presence of AI?

Moreover, Marwa explores adaptive reuse as a sustainable approach for repurposing historic buildings, particularly in regions like Qatar where historical legacies are relatively recent. Drawing on her expertise in teaching interior design history, she aims to investigate the potential of adaptive reuse in professional practice. Marwa is currently involved in a project to refine interior design curriculum and teaching methods, aligning them with emerging AI platforms like ChatGPT to enhance educational outcomes.

Selected Publications

• Abdelmonem, M., & Karawia, S. (2024). Classroom communications post pandemic: a case study. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03171-6  
• Zhai, K., Dilawar, A., Yousef, M. S., Holroyd, S., El-Hammali, H., & Abdelmonem, M. (2021). Virtual Reality Therapy for Depression and Mood in Long-Term Care Facilities. Geriatrics (Basel), 6(2), 58–. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6020058 
• Abdelmonem, M., Gaines, K., & Pati D. (2016). Connectedness-To-Home Reduces Depression in Long-Term Facilities: A Theoretical Shift, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA47Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (Full paper: published, presented, and received 2nd Place as EDRA47 Best Student Paper Award). 
• Abdelmonem, M. & Gaines, K. (2013). Analysis of Low-Income High-Rise Housing’s Direct and Indirect Environmental Factors That Contribute to Parental Anxiety Among Female-Headed Households in USA, 2013 Art and Humanities Graduate Student Research Conference Lubbock, Texas, USA (Full paper: published and presented). 
• Abdelmonem M. & Gaines K. (2012). Inside High-Rise Living: Effects on Mental Health, Seattle, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA43 Seattle Washington, USA (Full paper: published and presented). 

Conference Presentations

• Abdelmonem, M. (2024). Exploring Effective Uses of ChatGPT in Pedagogy, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA 55 Human- Centric Environments, Portland, Oregon, USA (Abstract). 
• Abdelmonem, M. & Karwia, S. (2022). Redefining Proxemics in the Post-COVID Classroom: A Case Study, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA53 Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina, USA (Abstract). 
• Abdelmonem, M., Gaines, K., & Pati D. (2020). Rethinking Depression in Long-Term Facilities, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA51 Tempe, , Tempe, Arizona, USA (Abstract). 
• Abdelmonem, M. & Amor, C. (2013). Lighting Impact on Aging in Place, International Conference on Design Principles and Practices, Chiba, Japan (Abstract). 
• Abdelmonem, M. & Gaines, K. (2013). Parental Anxiety in Low Income High Rises, International Conference on Design Principles and Practices, Chiba, Japan (Abstract). 
• Abdelmonem, M. & Amor, C. (2013). Lighting Impact on Aging in Place, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA44 Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA (Abstract). 
• Abdelmonem, M. & Pati, D. (2013). Reducing Depression Through Increasing Autonomy Among Elders in Nursing Homes, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA44 Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA (Poster)
• Abdelmonem, M. (2011). Inside High-Rise Living: Effects on Mental Health, College of Human Science Poster Session Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA (Poster). 
• Abdelmonem M. (2011). Environmental Design for Post-lingual Deafness, The 10th Annual Graduate Student Research Poster Competition, Lubbock, Texas, USA (Poster).

Student Research Mentorship  

• Maelathil, G., Abdelmonem, M., & Holmes-Dallimore, M. (2024). To What Extent Does Technology Usage in Primary Education Impact the Cognitive Development of Children in Australia between the Ages of Six to Ten? Environmental Design Research Association EDRA 55 Human- Centric Environments, Portland, Oregon, USA (Abstract). 
• Faraj, Y., Abdelmonem, M., & Holmes-Dallimore, M. (2024). Encouraging Socio-Cultural Awareness between Sub-Saharan Africans and Moroccans in Morocco, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA 55 Human- Centric Environments, Portland, Oregon, USA (Abstract). 
• Iqbal, H., Abdelmonem, M., & Holmes-Dallimore, M. (2024). Rural Education in Pakistan: Developing a Framework for an Inclusive Learning Environment, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA55 Human- Centric Environments, Portland, Oregon, USA (Abstract). 
• Al-Kaabi, S., Holmes-Dallimore, M., & Abdelmonem, M. (2024). Addressing the Childhood Obesity Crisis, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA 55 Human- Centric Environments, Portland Oregon, USA (Poster). 
• Eladawy, Y., Abdelmonem, M., & Holmes-Dallimore, M. (2023). Designing for Down Syndrome: Encouraging Social Communication with the Community, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA54 Mexico City, Mexico City, UNAM (Abstract). 
• Mohammoud, M., Holmes-Dallimore, M., & Abdelmonem, M. (2023). Post-Displacement in an Ever-Changing Climate, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA44 Mexico City, Mexico City, UNAM (Abstract). 
• Zaina, A., Abdelmonem, M., & Holmes-Dallimore, M. (2021). Prioritizing Place for a Fuller Understanding of Homelessness, Environmental Design Research Association EDRA 52 Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, USA (Abstract).