Assistant Professor of Teaching Adam Fromme has been selected for The Ohio State University's 2026–2027 Engaged Scholars Academy, joining 15 other faculty members from across the university in a yearlong program that supports community-engaged teaching, research and creative practice. The academy provides professional development, mentorship and opportunities to strengthen partnerships between the university and communities while advancing scholarship that addresses real-world challenges.

Fromme's selection reflects a growing interest to explore how design can serve as a collaborative form of inquiry for addressing complex social challenges. His work focuses on participatory design processes, developing methods that help students, professionals and community partners work together to navigate complexity and make value-based decisions. His recent work on the Recursive Design Framework extends this research by translating design practices into an accessible framework that supports collaborative learning. Through the Engaged Scholars Academy, Fromme aims to extend this framework beyond the classroom by exploring how it can support reciprocal partnerships and collaborative decision-making in community-engaged contexts.

Participation in the Engaged Scholars Academy will further strengthen this work by providing opportunities to deepen community partnerships, expand the application of design methods in community settings and evaluate the impact of engaged design practices. The experience will also support the Department of Design's commitment to community-engaged scholarship by expanding opportunities for collaborative research, interdisciplinary partnerships and experiential learning.