Aaron Neal is an assistant professor in the School of Interior Architecture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to joining the faculty, he taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He was awarded the AICAD Post Graduate Teaching Fellowship. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Interior Architecture from Auburn University, and a Master of Arts in Adaptive Reuse as a Presidential Fellow from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has also practiced professionally in Atlanta, Birmingham, and Nashville. His research investigates the role of adaptive reuse and historic preservation in addressing lingering disparities within underserved communities. The research focuses on these main areas: trauma informed design, the cultural impact of historic homes and schoolhouses, and the ongoing effects of urban renewal through the Federal Highway Act.