Mahesh Daas

We are proud to share that the Boston Architectural College will honor Nayak with the degree of Doctor of Design Honoris Causa for Alumni Excellence at our 2026 Commencement.

Taniya has built an extraordinary career across residential, hospitality, and commercial design while also becoming one of the most recognizable public voices in design through television and media. As Principal of Taniya Nayak Design, and through her work on HGTV, other national lifestyle platforms, and Food Network, she has shown that design can be rigorous, entrepreneurial, accessible, and culturally resonant all at once.

This honor carries added meaning for the BAC because Taniya is one of our own. A distinguished alumna and longtime member of the extended BAC community, she returned to campus this spring as our 2026 Hive Week Keynote Speaker for a fireside conversation on entrepreneurship, creative process, and the future of design.

What stands out in Taniya’s journey is that she has never accepted false choices. Practice or media. Excellence or accessibility. Professional rigor or public relevance. She has shown that design can move powerfully across all of those worlds.

We are delighted to celebrate her at Commencement alongside Mario Schjetnan, Lee Pelton, and Judy Nitsch.

Congratulations to Boston Architectural College faculty member Dr. Ashley Tannebaum on receiving the ACSA New Faculty Award in the part-time faculty category.

It was a pleasure to be there with Dean Beth Lundell Garver, AIA, NOMA and our distinguished alumna Carole Wedge FAIA NOMA LEED AP, CEO of AIA.

Proud of Ashley’s work and this well-earned recognition. She also presented her work in the award session, bringing her ideas to a broader audience in a meaningful way.