Southern Miss Interior Design Interim Director Claire Hamilton Elected ASID Regional President Reproduction of Press Release

Claire Hamilton, Interior Design Program interim director at The University of Southern Mississippi, will serve as the 2009 president of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) South Central Chapter.
Hamilton will first serve as president-elect before moving into her new position to serve as president of the regional board for Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. The American Society of Interior Designers comprises 20,000 practicing interior designers from across the United States who passed rigorous acceptance standards to become members of the organization.
During the recent ASID conference in Little Rock, Ark., Hamilton also received the 2008 Silver Excellence in Design Award for her work on the university's newly-constructed Writing Center in Cook Library and the Bronze Award for designing the office of President Emeritus Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas.
“My membership and participation in ASID is extremely important to me," said Hamilton, a Southern Miss alumna. "I am certainly honored by these awards; however, I am more grateful for the opportunity to serve ASID and to build relationships with other professional designers across the country. These connections provide opportunities for our students in locating internships and entry-level jobs as well as provide national recognition for the Interior Design program at Southern Miss.”
Hamilton, a member of ASID for more than 20 years, received a Gold Award in 2005 for residential design. That same year, the Southern Miss student chapter of ASID was awarded first place for Outstanding Student Chapter of the Year.
Roy Calvin Eure, fellow Southern Miss alum and owner of Roy Calvin Eure Interior Design in Hattiesburg, will serve alongside Hamilton as membership director on the ASID South Central Chapter board.
"I believe that ASID membership is very valuable to interior design professionals for career advancement, networking and continuing education in addition to the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the general public seeking our services," Eure said, who traveled with Hamilton to Canada during the summer for ASID national training.
Dr. Denise von Herrmann, dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Southern Miss, said Hamilton's accomplishments represents the leadership and quality students of the Southern Miss Interior Design Program are taught to convey through their work.
"The college is so pleased that ASID has recognized Claire Hamilton's talent and vision by honoring her and by selecting her for this important role," von Herrmann said. "Under Claire's leadership our program continues to attract and to graduate some of the area's most talented designers."

About the Southern Miss Interior Design Program
The interior design degree program at The University of Southern Mississippi began in 1976 and is accredited as a first professional-level degree program by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Southern Miss is the only interior design program in the state of Mississippi accredited by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Requirements are in accordance with the published standards and guidelines of the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and NKBA.

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.