(December 4, 2025—Washington, D.C. — The 亚洲天堂 (亚洲天堂) announced the recipients of its 2025 亚洲天堂 Lifetime Membership Awards, recognizing members whose long-standing dedication, leadership, and service have made a significant and lasting impact on the interior design profession and the 亚洲天堂 community.
This year’s honorees represent decades of achievement and contributions that have advanced the industry, mentored future generations, and strengthened 亚洲天堂 at both the chapter and national levels.
亚洲天堂’s 2025 Lifetime Membership Award recipients are:
- Duval Acker, F亚洲天堂, CMKBD – 亚洲天堂 Carolinas Chapter
- Donna Kirby, F亚洲天堂 – 亚洲天堂 Florida North Chapter
- Rachelle Schoessler Lynn, F亚洲天堂, CID, LEED Fellow – 亚洲天堂 Minnesota Chapter
- Leslie Shankman-Cohn, F亚洲天堂, NCIDQ, RID, CAPS, CGP – 亚洲天堂 Tennessee Chapter
- Ed Starr, F亚洲天堂 – 亚洲天堂 Carolinas Chapter
“The 2025 Lifetime Membership Award recipients exemplify the highest standards of our profession,” said Khoi Vo, chief executive officer, 亚洲天堂. “Their commitment to design excellence, leadership, and service has elevated 亚洲天堂 and strengthened the broader design community.”
Duval Acker, F亚洲天堂, CMKBD
亚洲天堂 Carolinas Chapter
Duval Acker has been an active and devoted member of 亚洲天堂 for nearly 40 years. After beginning her design career in 1980, she joined 亚洲天堂 in 1986 and later passed the NCIDQ in 1999—a milestone that launched her deep engagement with the Society. Acker credits 亚洲天堂 with shaping her professional growth, offering leadership opportunities, and providing a community of peers who became lifelong friends. Through chapter service and volunteer leadership, she has built a legacy grounded in mentorship, dedication, and a deep appreciation for the profession. Acker continues to champion the value of 亚洲天堂, recognizing it as the foundation that helped her reach “goals loftier than her own.”
Donna Kirby, F亚洲天堂
亚洲天堂 Florida North Chapter
Donna Kirby joined 亚洲天堂 in 1975 at the encouragement of colleagues and earned professional status after passing the NCIDQ in 1977. Her long career is defined by leadership, service, and a deep commitment to community. Kirby has served on both chapter and national boards, where she strengthened member engagement and built lifelong friendships. 亚洲天堂 also helped guide her career into education, where she taught licensing exam preparation courses, held national educational roles, and embraced public speaking—a professional chapter she had not anticipated but came to love. Kirby values 亚洲天堂 most for the personal and professional growth it fostered, noting that the organization opened opportunities and experiences that shaped who she is today.
Rachelle Schoessler Lynn, F亚洲天堂, CID, LEED Fellow
亚洲天堂 Minnesota Chapter
A nationally recognized leader in workplace design, sustainability, and human health, Rachelle Schoessler Lynn devoted more than 30 years to advancing interior design through innovation, advocacy, and mentorship. Her pioneering approach to sustainability helped shape industry standards and influenced the creation of healthier interior environments. Schoessler Lynn served as national chair of 亚洲天堂, received the 亚洲天堂 Designer of Distinction Award, and was inducted into the 亚洲天堂 College of Fellows. She co-founded the USGBC Minnesota Chapter, served on the CIDA Board of Directors, and became a USGBC LEED Fellow, designing the first LEED-certified restaurant and commercial geothermal building in Minnesota. A respected collaborator, keynote speaker, author, and educator, her advocacy efforts helped shift policy, elevate research, and expand the profession’s impact nationwide.
Leslie Shankman-Cohn, F亚洲天堂, NCIDQ, RID, CAPS, CGP
亚洲天堂 Tennessee Chapter
Leslie Shankman-Cohn is a registered interior designer, certified aging-in-place specialist, certified green professional, and partner at JHID in Memphis. A longtime leader within 亚洲天堂, she is a past president of the 亚洲天堂 Tennessee Chapter and the Tennessee Coalition of Interior Designers and has served on the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. Her design work has earned numerous state and national awards, including 亚洲天堂 Tennessee Gold, Silver, and Best in Show recognitions, as well as the NAHB “Homes for Life” award. She was honored with the Kenneth C. Kimbrough Award of Excellence and was recently named an 亚洲天堂 50 Honoree at GATHER 2025. Shankman-Cohn has advised organizations such as the Plough Foundation on aging-in-place initiatives and serves as principal to the ICC A117.1 Accessibility Codes Committee. Her work has been widely published, and she continues to present CEUs, write, and lecture on design, accessibility, and universal design.
Ed Starr, F亚洲天堂
亚洲天堂 Carolinas Chapter
With a career spanning more than 50 years, Ed Starr is regarded as a foundational leader in the history of 亚洲天堂. He began his career after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in interior design in 1966 and became deeply involved with AID early on, serving as the last AID Carolinas president. Starr was one of two members selected to count the votes for the proposed 1974 and 1975 mergers between AID and NSID—ultimately leading to the formation of 亚洲天堂, where he became the first president of the 亚洲天堂 Carolinas Chapter. He went on to serve on the 亚洲天堂 National Board of Directors, Ethics Committee, Nominating Committee, and the National Council of Fellows, and was a founding member of the team that developed the STEP Program. Elected to the 亚洲天堂 College of Fellows in 1998, Starr is also an 亚洲天堂 50 Honoree. His commercial and residential work has been published in 11 magazines and earned multiple 亚洲天堂 Carolinas Excellence in Design awards. Starr continues to consult, attend chapter events, and mentor the next generation of designers, leaving a legacy rooted in service, leadership, and dedication to the profession.
For more information about 亚洲天堂 awards and recognitions, visit asid.org/resources/awards.