Johnson Architecture grants first scholarship to University of Tennessee student

December 9, 2021

A new scholarship established by Johnson Architecture is benefiting its first student at the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design. Dexter Gladney Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee, has been awarded a scholarship to fund travel abroad experiences and other educational expenses.

The Johnson Architecture Scholarship was established in 2021 to increase diversity in the profession and encourage students to expand their horizons through studying abroad. The $25,000 scholarship will provide $5,000 to one student each year for five years.

Gladney plans to study in Italy because he admires classical design and enjoys working with materials used in traditional Italian buildings.

“We are honored to help Dexter fulfill his dream of traveling and learning internationally and look forward to the contributions he is sure to make within the field,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture.

Johnson, AIA, NCARB, is a 1984 graduate of the UT College of Architecture and Design, as are partners Eric Bowen, AIA (1992); Rick Friel, AIA (1992); and Jeff Williamson, AIA (2001); and an additional 13 members of the firm’s staff of architects and interior designers.

The UT College of Architecture and Design is well-regarded for innovative and immersive programs. Johnson Architecture’s investment in future architects fosters their potential and prepares them for a career after graduation.

“The scholarship has already helped me purchase textbooks and school supplies as well as entry to museums and art galleries on a recent trip to New York City,” Gladney said. “I look forward to experiencing even more thanks to the generosity of Mr. Johnson and everyone at Johnson Architecture.”

Johnson Architecture partners Rick Friel and Jeff Williamson meet with Johnson Architecture Scholarship recipient Dexter Gladney, center, a student at the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design.

The Johnson Architecture Scholarship is awarded by the UT Scholarship Committee in accordance with university policy and available to students pursuing a major in the School of Architecture or School of Interior Architecture. Gladney is the first of five students who will be granted $5,000 scholarships in the next five years.

Applicants must be currently enrolled or admitted at UT, demonstrate successful academic performance and be considered a third-year student or higher, having completed a minimum of four semesters. While intended to address underrepresentation in the field of architecture and increase diversity, the scholarship shall be open to all applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, parental status or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.