In alphabetical order
Carrie Czar, MSIA
Assistant Professor
Interior Architecture & Design
Carrie Czar received her Bachelor of Science degree in Interior design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In 2006, she received her Master of Science in Interior Architecture from Chatham University. Throughout her professional career, Carrie has worked in both the residential and commercial industries, focusing on both kitchen and bath design to systems furniture. Carrie has co-owned CC Design, a residential consulting firm, since 2018. She specializes in residential design remodeling, additions, and new construction.
Carrie began her teaching career at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2004. In 2006, she was promoted to Assistant Professor in the Interior Design Department. For the next 13 years she taught for the online division of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Carrie joined the Design Division at La Roche University in 2023 as a visiting professor and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2024. She teaches both studio and lecture-based courses, including Design Studio I and II, Building Tech (Lighting/Electrical), History of Architecture and Design I and II.
Carrie has a passion for barrier-free design from being directly impacted by disability in her own family. Her advocacy of her daughter’s disability has given her the enthusiasm to spread awareness that disability should not prohibit inclusion but inspire it. Other interests include traveling to new places, attending Pittsburgh’s professional sporting events, and spending time with her family.
Denise Dolgos, MBA
Visiting Professor
Interior Architecture & Design
With three decades of professional experience, Denise brings a multifaceted background in design strategy and creative direction to her teaching.
Denise earned a BFA in Graphic Design from Indiana University of Pittsburgh and worked as an Art Director at a large global agency. From there, she led the creative side of the advertising department and later worked in senior-level marketing roles for a large regional retailer. Working to expand her strategic side, Denise earned her MBA with a cohort that reached Sao Paulo and Prague. Denise later began a design and marketing consulting business where she has had the opportunity to partner with small agencies and local non-profits through international clients and Fortune 500 companies.
Prior to teaching at La Roche, Denise took an active role on the Pittsburgh AIGA board, serving in various roles, including President. Her passion for mentoring in the corporate world turned into a love for teaching at the university level, which began as an adjunct at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh. As an educator, Denise works to prepare the next generation of designers to navigate the evolving landscape of visual communication. She encourages students to approach their work with curiosity, critical thinking, and a strong sense of craft. Her teaching focuses on bridging classroom learning with real-world practice, inspiring students to see themselves as problem-solvers.
Denise enjoys traveling locally and abroad, foodie finds, and as a pop culture fan, she enjoys connecting with students about current events.
Todd Hoffman, M.S.
Instructor
Graphic Design
I have worked for the La Roche Graphic Design Department since August of 2014. I come from a long history of graphic design jobs. My first job in the industry was actually in the North Hills area. I worked for WPGH-TV as an Art Director. I have worked for several ad agencies in my career and have happily been awarded several prizes for my work- two Pittsburgh Addy Awards, two Best of Show in the Martin Media Billboard awards, and a Best of Show Regional AIGA Award.
My tastes in graphic design (and everything) are pretty eclectic. I’m mesmerized by the geometry and precision of Josef Müller Brockmann, but also love the energy in the pen drawings of Saul Steinberg. I have so many favorite graphic designers. Graphic Design is a reflection of its time, but also, many times, shapes the time that it exists as well. I love to draw, create logos, work as a freelance designer.
My wife and I have two daughters Charlotte and Samantha, aged 19 and 15. We also adopted a La Roche puppy back in 2017. Her name is Zelda and she is 8 years old.
My college alma mater is Allegheny College. I graduated in 1988 with a BA in Communication Arts. I received my MS in 2003 from Duquesne University in Multimedia Technology.
Michelle L. Kirkpatrick, MSIA
Department Chair, Interior Architecture & Design
Assistant Professor
Michelle Kirkpatrick earned her Master of Science in Interior Architecture from Chatham University with concentrations in historic preservation and higher education. She received her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design degree from La Roche College. Michelle has held a variety of positions in Pittsburgh at architectural, design and historic preservation firms as well as custom home builders.
Michelle first began her teaching career as an adjunct professor at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2007. From 2009 – 2019, she was an Assistant Professor in the Interior Design Department. Michelle has also held a part-time teaching position at Seminole State College of Florida and worked as an instructional designer to develop new programmatic courses for the online modality. In 2019, Michelle joined the Design Division at La Roche University as an adjunct professor. In 2021, she became a Visiting Professor and was promoted to Assistant Professor of Interior Architecture & Design in 2022. She teaches both studio and lecture-based classes, including Design Studio I, II, and III, Building Tech (Construction and Finish Materials & Textiles), Foundations II, Interior Graphics, Professional Practices, Kitchen & Bath Design and Study of Great American Houses.
Outside of the classroom, Michelle takes on residential projects as an independent consultant. She is a wife, a mother of two, an avid photographer and gardener, and a novice tennis player.
Lauren P. Lampe, MFA
Professor, Graphic Design
Professor, designer, artist, traveler, adventurer, Lauren was born and raised in New Jersey. She attended the University of Delaware where she studied Design and graduated with a degree in Visual Communications. Her life’s travels have taken her far and wide for both work and pleasure. After living in England, Switzerland, France and the Caribbean, Lauren returned to the States to pursue graduate studies and received her M.F.A. from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
Lauren has been a teacher her whole life and lives by the mantra: what we have to give, to others, is the summary of our lives’ experience. In addition to teaching at La Roche University since 1997, the universities that Lauren has taught at include East Carolina University, University of Delaware, and S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Mumbai, India. Lauren also enjoys teaching workshops and has taught at Touchstone Center for Craft in Pennsylvania, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, The Society for Contemporary Craft, and most recently for a fibers retreat in Nevada.
In addition to a career teaching design, Lauren makes new creative work daily. Lauren’s work includes mixed media sculpture, metalsmithing, fibers, and digital designing and photography. She is an industry trained metalsmith and jewelry designer who also worked as a typesetter in London, England. Lauren enjoys learning new things and finds wonder in learning and teaching new topics.
At the beginning of her recent sabbatical (2014-2015), Lauren was the recipient of a Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Grant, which assisted, in her trip to Greece to study marble carving under a classically trained master carver. Laurens sabbatical incorporated a wide range of investigations into rendering 3D objects both by hand, marble carving, and digitally on the computer and working with a 3D printer and laser cutter.
As a full-professor at La Roche University Lauren brings valuable teaching experience along with her life’s experience to her classroom.
Andy Schwanbeck, MFA
Department Chair, Graphic Design
Associate Professor
Andy Schwanbeck is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Graphic Design department of La Roche University. In his twelve-year career, he has worked in a variety of design disciplines. Upon earning his degree in industrial design, he began his professional experience as a product designer for a small industrial design firm in Lyon, France. His ongoing interest in graphic design led him to his career in experiential graphic design. His professional career has covered working signage and wayfinding, web design, branding, marketing, and exhibition design. After earning his MFA in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University, his current work has taken on a strategic research-focused approach.
Andy has served as an adjunct faculty member for American University and Kent State University and as an Assistant Professor of Media Art + Design at Westminster College. As an educator at La Roche University, he focuses on leveraging his diverse experience and research skills to empower students to be better thinkers and more well-rounded designers.
In addition, Andy also enjoys success as a co-owner of a small letterpress printing business, Big Press Little Press. He has served as a board member on the Pittsburgh chapter of AIGA. Outside of his professional practice, Andy is an active outdoorsman, seeking adventure and relaxation in the beauty of our amazing national parks system.
Suzanne Sekula, MSIA
Assistant Professor, Interior Architecture & Design
Suzanne Sekula is a seasoned interior designer with over 25 years of experience in both residential and commercial design. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from La Roche College and a Master of Science in Interior Architecture from Chatham University. Suzanne is NCIDQ-certified and a LEED Accredited Professional with a specialty in Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C), demonstrating her commitment to sustainable, high-performing design solutions.
With a deep passion for interior design education, Suzanne has spent more than two decades teaching in CIDA-accredited interior design programs, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of design professionals. Her academic career began as an adjunct faculty member the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2005, where she progressed to the rank of Professor in the Interior Design department, serving until 2015. She later joined the Interior Architecture Department at Chatham University as adjunct faculty, teaching across both undergraduate and graduate curricula. Suzanne joined the Design Division of La Roche University as an Adjunct Professor in 2024 and was promoted to Assistant Professor of Interior Architecture and Design in 2025. She teaches both studio and lecture-based courses, including Studio I, III, Building Tech Materials, and History of Architecture and Design.
In 2015, Suzanne established her own interior design practice, delivering tailored design services to both residential and commercial clients. Her design philosophy blends creative vision with technical precision to craft thoughtful, customized environments that elevate daily living. She strives to connect academic learning with real-world application, equipping students with the practical insight and industry relevance needed for successful design careers.
