Interior Design Faculty

Interior Design Department
Notre Dame Hall
(414) 256-1213

Leona S. Knobloch-Nelson, ASID, NCIDQ, WRID, LEEP-AP
Department Chairperson, Associate Professor
MS, Architecture with a Certificate in Historic Preservation, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
BS, Architecture, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
BS, Interior Design, Lawrence Technological University - Michigan

Leona's design work experience has included firms in Michigan and Wisconsin. She has worked on a number of projects in the areas of corporate, healthcare/eldercare, institutional, educational, hospitality and residential. Leona continues her professional practice as a partner in the firm Knobloch Nelson Architects LLC. Leona joined the Mount Mary College full-time interior design faculty in January 2002.

She is a professional member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and a member of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Leona is a Wisconsin Registered Interior Designer (WRID), and carries certifications for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). In addition to facilitating the on-going operations for the Department, Leona is the co-faculty advisor to the Mount Mary College ASID/IIDA Student Chapter. Her involvement in the department focuses on professional development, phases of design, sustainable design, social justice design, and principles, theories and history of architecture/design. Leona teaches Design & Communication, Residential Design, Commercial/Special Topic Design and the History of Architecture & Interiors.

Dennis Klopfer, IIDA, WRID
Associate Professor
MUP, Architecture & Urban Planning, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
BS, Architecture, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Dennis joined Mount Mary College as a full time interior design faculty member in 1988. Dennis is an interior design consultant and practitioner with extensive construction, technical and CAD application knowledge. He has been involved in project work in Wisconsin and Florida.

Dennis is a Wisconsin Registered Interior Designer (WRID), a professional member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), a member of the International Design Communication Association (DCA) and an affiliate member of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI). His involvement in the department focuses on construction and technical aspects of design, as well as the overall development of a project from programming to construction documentation. Dennis teaches Building Construction, Interior Public Spaces/Retail Design, and the Senior Project Capstone Studio.

Pamm Steffen, ASID-Allied, WRID
Arts and Design Division Chairperson, Associate Professor
MS, Related Art, University of Wisconsin - Madison
BS, Interior Design, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Pamm started her career as a residential, and later commercial, interior designer in Madison, WI. She joined Mount Mary College as a full-time interior design faculty member in 1982. She is a Wisconsin Registered Interior Designer (WRID), an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the Vice President of the Interior Design Coalition of Wisconsin (IDCW) and co-founder of the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance (WGBA). Her involvement in the department includes student development, environmental issues and networking. Pamm teaches Orientation, Sustainable Design, Career Seminar and Internship while serving as Chairperson for the Arts and Design Division.

Barb Chappell
MS, Clothing, Textiles and Related Art, University of Wisconsin - Stout
BS, Related Art - Textile Design, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Barb was a fabric stylist for Monterey Mills and has been designing and manufacturing limited edition wearable art and commission textiles for interior designers, private individuals and galleries since 1990. Barb owns Fiberwood Studio in Milwaukee. She is on the WI Designer Craft Council Board of Directors and a WI Handweavers and Midwest Weavers Association member. Barb teaches Textiles and Fiber Art courses.

William Feldman, AIA, LEED AP
BFA, Industrial Design, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

William began his career as a product designer, expanded into commercial interiors, exhibit design and graphics, and eventually turned his focus to architecture. He is currently working as an architect in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with many award winning projects to his credit, and is an adjunct instructor at The Art Institute of Wisconsin and Mount Mary College.

Additionally, he has taught design and drawing courses at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and Milwaukee Area Technical College, and conducts an IDCEC accredited perspective drawing course for professional designers and architects. He is both a registered architect and Wisconsin registered interior designer, an Architect Member of the American Institute of Architects and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Tracie Losch, LC
BA, English, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
BA, Interior Design, Mount Mary College

Tracie has practiced as a lighting designer at a number of engineering and architectural firms in the Greater Milwaukee Area. She is a certified Lighting Designer with experience in healthcare, education, hospitality, institutional and corporate designs. Tracie teaches the Lighting course.

Art Department Faculty
The Fine Arts faculty members teach color, basic drawing, basic design, art history and art labs.

Guest Speakers
The faculty works closely with the design community to create a variety of networking opportunities for the students. Courses as well as departmental and student organization networking events provide the students with many opportunities to meet practitioners and other related professionals.