March 10, 2025
Christopher Fein and Chassy Nichols recognized as Professor and Professional Staff of the Week
Christopher Fein, assistant professor of architecture in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design, was recognized as Professor of the Week at the March 8 men's home basketball game. Faculty Senate, the Office of the President and K-State Athletics wish to recognize his contributions to K-State.
Fein joined K-State as a visiting assistant professor of architecture in 2010 and then joined as an assistant professor in 2020. He received two design studio teaching fellowships at Yale University as a graduate student. When Fein moved to Kansas City, he founded FORWARD Design | Architecture, a small design practice focused on housing and restoration of historic properties. He has recently won an AIA Kansas City president’s award for his championing of design education. The firm has won numerous awards since its founding. This includes three AIA Central states design awards, eight AIA Kansas Design Awards, two preservation awards from Historic Kansas City, and numerous local and regional awards from design publications. His work is regularly published in local, national and international publications.
His scholarly research is focused on post-World War II modernist architecture through the lens of preservation and building adaptation. He recently had a Docomomo US article published on modern architecture in Kansas. With assistant professor Michael Grogan, he was co-awarded a 2021-22 National Park Service/Kansas SHPO Historic Preservation Fund Grant to survey modern architecture in Manhattan. He has been on the board of directors for KCmodern since 2011 and is a co-founder and on the board of the preservation advocacy organization Plains Modern.
Fein received his masters degree in architecture from Yale University and his bachelors degree in architecture from K-State. He is a registered architect in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, a LEED accredited professional, and a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards member.
Chassy Nichols, assistant budget fiscal officer in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, was recognized as Professional Staff of the Week at the March 8 men's home basketball game. Faculty Senate, the Office of the President and K-State Athletics wish to recognize her contributions to K-State.
Nichols has an exemplary record of service and leadership to the faculty, staff and students in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and the university. Nichols has established a strong and very positive relationship with engineering leadership and is the go-to person when fiscal and financial questions arise. She provides responses in a very timely manner and is always happy and willing to help. Nichols is also a key resource and mentor to other college business officers and is always willing to help when someone is unavailable. She remains focused, steadfast and dedicated to helping others, even when challenges arise. She's been instrumental to the university with the implementation of QuickBooks Online Advance and is on the Cloud-Based Accounting User Groups as the lead for the University.
Nichols is a highly dedicated leader at K-State who deserves recognition as a Professional Staff of the Week.
The Professor of the Week recognition is coordinated by Faculty Senate, the President's office and K-State Athletics. Recipients are faculty members selected by Faculty Senate caucuses. Those selected are provided tickets to a men's or women's home basketball game of their choosing and are recognized during halftime. This is just a small token of appreciation for those who teach at K-State.