Interior Design Faculty

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

Full Time Faculty

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. In addition to education Dennis is an interior design consultant and practitioner. His extensive construction, technical and CAD application knowledge have involved him 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). In addition to teaching, Dennis is the co-faculty advisor to the Mount Mary College ASID/IIDA Student Chapter. His involvement in the department focuses on educating on the 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, Senior Project Studio, and Computer Aided Design courses.

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 in her own firm, Knobloch Nelson Design. 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 educating in the areas of 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 courses.

Pamm Steffen, ASID-Allied, WRID
Art 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 Art and Design Division.

Part Time Faculty

Lisa Blazek, ASID, LEED AP
BFA, Painting and Drawing, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
BA, Interior Design, Mount Mary College
Lisa joined Mount Mary College in Spring, 2008. Her design experience involves her work as an interior designer in the Greater Milwaukee Area. She is a professional member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), as well as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accreditated Professional (LEED-AP). Lisa teaches the Business Procedures course.

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.

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.

Carrie Storm
BA, Graphic Design and Studio Art, St. Mary’s University.
BA, Interior Design, Mount Mary College.
Carrie joined Mount Mary College in Fall 2005. She has practiced as an interior designer doing commercial, retail and residential design at various firms in the Greater Milwaukee Area. In addition to teaching Carrie operates her own firm as a free lance artist/interior designer. Carrie teaches courses in Architectural Drafting and Sketching & Rendering.

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.