Faculty Profile for Dr. Asha Latha Hegde Niezgoda

profile photo for Dr. Asha Latha Hegde Niezgoda
Dr. Asha Latha Hegde Niezgoda
Professor Emerita — School of Family & Consumer Sciences
FCS 208
phone: (512) 245-2155

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Asha Hegde, Ph.D., LC, is Professor of Interior Design and Lighting Design at Texas State University, San Marcos, TX. Besides research and teaching she conducts continuing education seminars to architects and interior designers on the topic of light and color across the nation. She has a BS in Interior Design from Florida State University and a MS and Ph.D., in Human Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in lighting from Oklahoma State University. She has over 50-refereed publications and invited presentations in the field of light and color. She is a member and past chair of the IES National Committee of ‘Lighting for Aging and Partially Sighted’.

Teaching Interests

Design research; lighting design; sustainability; design studios which focus heavily on programming and research; building codes and standards; evidence based design.

Research Interests

- Improving the qulaity of life and living of older adults in their home environment.
- Empathy in design education: Introduce and evaluate 'simulation-based learning' in design students about mobility and everyday living activities of older adults and low vision population.
- Effects of light quality (color/wavelengths) and intensity on older adults health, circadian and safety.

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Hegde, A. L., Boucher, T. M., & Lavelle, A. D. (2018). How Do You Work? Understanding User Needs for Responsive Study Space Design. College & Research Libraries, 79(7), 895–915. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.79.7.895
  • Hegde Niezgoda, A. (2021). Lighting Your Way to Better Vision: Consumer Guide CG-1-20. New York, NY: Illuminating Engineering Society.
  • Hegde, A. (2020). ANSI/IESNA RP-28-20 Lighting and the visual environment for older adults and the partially sighted. In RP-28 is part of the Lighting Applications Standards Collection. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Retrieved from The Lighting LibraryTM – Illuminating Engineering Society (ies.org)
  • Hegde, A., & Bishop, N. (2020). Simulation and Reflection Experience: An effective Teaching Strategy to Sensitize Interior Design Students to the Visual Needs of Older Adults. Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education Journal, 19(1), 33–49. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1386/adch_00012_1
  • Hegde, A. L. (2019). Lighting in Low Income Housing Community of Older Adults.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: 2014 Technical Award, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. July 2014
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Featured Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society, The Illuminating Engineering Society. October 2013
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Best Presentation, IDEC Southwest Regional Conference. October 2012
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Certificate of Appreciation—Refereed Research Paper Reviewer, Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC). 2008
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Certificate of Appreciation for Faculty Advisor, Student ASID Chapter, University of Texas at Austin. 1996

Selected Grants

  • Hegde Niezgoda, Asha Latha (Principal), Westerberg, Carmen E (Co-Principal), Martinez-Ramos, Gloria P. (Co-Principal), Ahn, Mira (Co-Principal). Effects of indoor lighting interventions on sleep, well-being, and safety in older adults living independently in public housing, Multidisciplinary Team Incentive, Texas State University, $2460. (Funded: July 2016 - Present). Grant.
  • Hegde, A. (Co-Principal), Martinez, G., Westerberg, C.. Effects of indoor lighting interventions on sleep, wellbeing and safety of older adults independently living in public housing, Texas State University, Multidisciplinary Team Incentive Small Grants, $2459. (Submitted: 2016, Funded: 2017 - 2018). Grant.
  • Hegde, A L. Assessment of Visual and Biological Lighting Conditions of Independently Living Elderly in San Marcos Public Housing, Texas State University, Research Enhancement Program, $8000. (Submitted: 2016, Funded: 2017 - 2018). Grant.
  • Matthew, C., Hill, C., Hegde, A. L.. Burnout in the interior design profession: Implications for practice, University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture Faculty Research and Project Support Grant, $8782. (Submitted: 2012). Grant.
  • Matthews, Carl A, Hill, Caroline Cathleen, Hegde Niezgoda, Asha Latha. University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture Faculty Research and Project Support, Institutional (Higher Ed), $8782. (Submitted: March 1, 2012, Funded: December 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Other
Interior Design Program Coordinator
January 2022-Present
Chair
Interior Design Faculty Search - 3 Tenure Track positions
November 2021-Present
Member
Website Review and Update Committee - SFCS
November 2020-Present
Chair
Illuminating Engineering Society - Lighting for the Aged/Survey and Evaluation Sub-Committee
May 2020-Present
Member
Illuminating Engineering Society - Lighting for the Aged/Virtual Reality Sub-Committee
May 2020-Present