Geiser to Curate Intersight 28 with a Focus on Intellectual Thought and Process
Kelly Sheldon September 3, 2025
Elizabeth Geiser (MArch '26) - 2025-26 Brunkow Fellow. Photo by Lukas Iverson
Elizabeth Geiser (MArch ‘26) has been named the 2025-26 Brunkow Fellow by the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, a recognition that highlights just how far she’s come since first stepping into the world of architecture.
After graduating from the University of Rochester in 2020 with a degree in history, Geiser found herself at a crossroads as the global pandemic offered a rare moment to reflect. Law school was a possible next step, but her longstanding interest in architecture began to take center stage.
At first, Geiser considered her limited artistic skills a major barrier to entering the architectural field. “I don’t know how to sketch, I can’t draw – this isn’t for me,” she thought. But her mindset shifted when she discovered that several colleges and universities offer master of architecture programs that are tailored for students without prior experience in that field of study.
Taking a leap of faith, Geiser applied for several of those programs, telling herself, “If they let me in, that means I’m good enough to do it. That means they see skills that I don’t see myself.” When she was accepted into the program at UB, she knew that was the right choice for her.
During her time in UB’s MArch program, Geiser has excelled – mastering core design principles and developing broader skills like time management and understanding when to declare a project “finished,” as well as gaining confidence in her artistic abilities.
“The way the program works is you’re eased into being able to produce these big drawings,” she shared. “I feel a lot more confident in my skills. I’m very stubborn, so it’s hard for me to ask for help. But being in a program where everyone starts out knowing nothing, we’re all starting from the beginning – that made me a lot more comfortable seeking help. It has allowed me to improve my skills, and now I’m able to start being more creative and experimental."
Geiser’s growth and promise have been affirmed by the School through her recent selection as 2025-26 Brunkow Fellow. The primary role of the Brunkow Fellow is the curation of Intersight, an annual journal that chronicles the creative and scholarly outputs of the School’s students and reflects on the pedagogy of the school. First published 35 years ago, this year will see its 28th edition, spearheaded by Geiser and a faculty advisory team that includes Associate Professor Miguel Guitart and others.
Geiser has demonstrated a proactive approach to her education, seeking out opportunities beyond the standard curriculum to strengthen essential skills. Prime examples of this include the Brunkow Fellowship as well as the Ireland Study Abroad program.
Ireland Study Abroad explores cultural and climatic variations between urban and rural sites across Ireland and Scotland using the creation of postcards as a medium. “We had to make collages and watercolors, as well as learn how to take good architectural photos,” Geiser explained. “I thought it was a unique program. It taught things that are important for architecture but may not necessarily have a class dedicated to just those skills.”
Elizabeth Geiser (MArch '26)
I hope Intersight 28 can act as an outlet for architectural and planning criticism...Articles will question why we study architecture and planning and why we study them in the way we do, as well as start to postulate answers to said questions.
Similarly, she recognized the Brunkow Fellowship as a chance to gain experience in a new and valuable area.
Intersight first caught her attention when she was handed a copy during a School visit before getting accepted. “I thought it was cool,” she reflected. “In my undergraduate years, I never had an opportunity to publish or see anything published from students. I saw Intersight as an opportunity to learn what goes into publishing and producing a journal like that. It’s another chance to gain those skills that are expected of you as an architect or designer, but you rarely get such a structured opportunity to learn them.”
Each Brunkow Fellow brings their own unique vision to Intersight, and Geiser is especially interested in celebrating student intellectual life at the School through the promotion of compelling and engaging writing.
“There is value to written work that is not found in other formats,” she explained. “Reading requires a certain level of engagement, focus, and concentration, which, while increasingly challenging in today’s world, teaches, reinforces, and practices skills that are required in daily life. Encouraging students to write for Intersight 28 demonstrates the value that UB puts into student intellectual life, causes students to think about their experiences at the School more deeply, and who is better to write about the student experience than the students themselves?”
And what does she hope readers will take away from the experience? She encourages us to ask questions in an effort to develop our own informed opinions.
“I hope Intersight 28 can act as an outlet for architectural and planning criticism. The journal can provoke a series of larger questions to justify the need for architectural and planning critique in school and the profession. Articles will question why we study architecture and planning and why we study them in the way we do, as well as start to postulate answers to said questions. I want to avoid focusing solely on production, seeing architectural and planning education as a way to form an opinion rather than an end product.”
