Dr. Gabriela Fonseca Pereira
Associate Professor, Interior Design
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Selected Research
Biography
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira is an Associate Professor in Interior Design. She received her Ph.D. from the Oklahoma State University and has a Master's degree in Design and Technology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil, a degree in Visual Arts (Federal University of Pelotas - UFPel, Brazil) and Furniture Design (Sul-Rio-Grandense Federal Institute - IFSul). Her current research focus on housing solutions for aging-in-place, gerontechnology, and virtual reality for interior design.
Current Courses
FCS 303.001 Emerging Technology in Interior Design
FCS 442.001 Emerging Technology in Interior Design
FCS 299.002 Independent Honor Study
FCS 499.024 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
FCS 287.023 Independent Study
FCS 400.001 Independent Study
FCS 340.001 Interior Design I: Studio
FCS 340.002 Interior Design I: Studio
FCS 491.001 Internship: Seminar In College Teaching In Family & Consumer
FCS 424.001 Selected Problems In Family And Consumer Sciences
FCS 291.023 Undergraduate Teaching Experiences In Family And Consumer Sciences
Teaching Interests & Areas
- Emerging Technology
- Virtual Reality
- Housing Solutions for Older Adults
- Human Factors and Special Populations
- History of Interiors
Research Interests & Areas
Housing solutions for Aging-in-Place, Gerontechnology, Virtual Reality
PhD Human Sciences (Interior Design)
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
MS Design
Rio Grande do Sul Federal University (UFRGS)
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Bachelor of Arts Visual Arts
Pelotas Federal University (UFPel)
Pelotas, RS, Brazil
Connie J. Ley Outstanding Researcher Award
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
2023
CAST Outstanding Teacher Award – Pre-Tenure Category
College of Applied Science and Technology
2022
2018 Women's Research Award
The Women's Faculty Council, Oklahoma State University
2018
1st Place - IDEC Student Design Competition - Graduate Student Level
Interior Design Educators Council
2017
Grants and Contracts
Educating older adults on home modifications through Virtual Reality experience to promote aging-in-place.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Ana Bicudo.
BirdFEEDER (Fund for Experimentation, Enquiry and the DEvelopment of Student Research). January 2025
Center for Inclusive Intergenerational Environment
Elke Altenburger, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Luke Russell, Chang Su-Russell.
Illinois State University. 2023 - 2024
CAST Grant for Innovation in Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI)
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
CAST. 2022 - 2022
Enabling Extended Reality and Game-Based Learning in Design and Construction Courses.
Sally Xie, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
University Teaching Grant. 2022 - 2022
Examining Gerontechnology’s diffusion for falls among the decision-makers to support their parents’ aging-in-place.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Interior Design Educators Council Foundation (IDECF) Special Projects Grant. 2022 - 2024
The development of a Human Factors Research and Teaching Virtual Lab
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
FIREBird (Faculty-mentored Independent Research Experience). 2022 - 2023
University Research Grant
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Illinois State University. 2021 - 2022
University Teaching Grant
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
CTLT. 2021 - 2022
CAST Presentation Travel Grant
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
College of Applied Science and Technology. 2020 - 2020
moveSIT: A seating solution to help improve blood flow
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Aditya Jayadas, Mihyun Kang, Margareth Sevadjian.
I-Corps National Program, National Science Foundation. March 2019 - May 2019
Abstract
Multigenerational Living: Designing for American Immigrant Families in the United States
Connie Dyar, Dongniya Xiu, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Dana Vaux.
Interior Design Educator Council, (2024)
Book, Chapter
Foundations of Extended Reality in Speech Language Pathology.
Jennine Harvey, Yi-hsiang Chang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Megan E. Cuellar.
(2025), Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Mixed Reality in Speech-Language Pathology, Plural Publishing, Inc.
The Future of Extended Reality in Speech Language Pathology.
Jennine Harvey, Yi-hsiang Chang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Megan E. Cuellar.
(2025), Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Mixed Reality in Speech-Language Pathology, Plural Publishing, Inc.
Designing co-living communities for the aging population
Mihyun Kang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
(2023), Transforming issues in housing design, Wiley
Navigating the space between soft leads and mixed reality with design students
Elke Altenburger, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Handbook of Interior Architecture, Routledge
Conference Proceeding
A case study of Inclusive Design to improve sense of belonging in higher education.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Danielle Gruber, Ana Bicudo.
EDRA55 Annual Conference Proceedings, (2024)
Exploring students’ experiences with mixed reality technology in interior design projects: a pilot study.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
2024 IDEC Annual Conference Proceedings, (2024)
Potential hazards in aging parents’ homes and adult children’s attitude towards Gerontechnology for falls
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang, Erica Elsey.
2024 IDEC Annual Conference Proceedings., (2024)
Examining Gerontechnology diffusion for falls among the decision-makers to support their parents’ aging-in-place
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
EDRA54, (2023)
Inclusive Design Analysis in Educational Spaces and Users’ Perceptions: A Case Study.
Claire Culbreth, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
EDRA54, (2023)
Interior Design students’ perceptions of the physical aspects of aging through an aging simulation suit
Erica Elsey, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
EDRA54, (2023)
The Potential Use of Unity Game Engine for VR in Interior Design Human Factors Research.
Ellie DeZur, Claire Culbreth, Erica Elsey, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
EDRA54, (2023)
Aging simulation to build learning and empathy among interior design students
Erica Elsey, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
(2022)
Home spaces used as third places during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults living in the U.S.A. and in Brazil
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang, Dongniya Xiu.
(2022)
Use of gaming program Unity for interior design virtual reality 3D modeling
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Katherine Shalloo.
(2022)
Examining home modifications for aging-in-place and older adults’ attitudes towards gerontechnologies for fall prevention, detection, and monitoring.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
Proceedings of the 51st Annual Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association, (2020)
Older adults’ technology readiness impact on perceived knowledge and attitudes towards home gerontechnologies for falls
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
2020 IDEC Annual Conference Proceedings, (2020)
The diffusion of gerontechnology for fall prevention, fall detection, and fall monitoring model testing
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
Gerontechnology, 19 (0), (2020)
Influencing factors for desire to age-in-place: Older adults’ perceptions on interior design and home modifications
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Proceedings of the 50th Annual Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association., (2019)
Diffusion of innovation among older adults: A framework of gerontechnology acceptance for aging-in-place.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
Proceedings of the IDEC Southwest Regional Conference 2018, (2018)
Older adults’ perceptions on accessibility in the built environment in an urban senior cohousing community.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang, Rachael Sample.
Proceedings of the 49th Annual Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association, (2018)
Journal Article
Designing Virtual Reality Applications for Speech-Language Pathology: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Aging-in-Place Practices and Rehabilitation Services.
Jennine Harvey, Yi-hsiang Chang, Megan Cuellar, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Journal of Enabling Technologies, (2025)
Designing virtual reality applications for speech-language pathology: an interdisciplinary collaboration for aging-in-place practices and rehabilitation services
Jennine Harvey-Northrop, Yi-hsiang Isaac Chang, Megan Cuellar, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Journal of Enabling Technologies, 19 (2), 113-127, (2025), 10.1108/jet-08-2024-0052
Examining Attitudes Toward Gerontechnology for Falls in Decision-Makers Supporting Their Aging-in-Place Parents
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang, Erica Elsey.
The Journal of Aging and Social Change, 15 (1), 33-52, (2025), 10.18848/2576-5310/cgp/v15i01/33-52
Interdisciplinary Digital Health and Learning Survey Across Speech-Language Pathology, Technology, and Interior Design: Implications for Training in Rehabilitation and Aging-In-Place Practices
Jennine M Harvey-Northrop, Isaac Chang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Megan Cuellar.
Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders, 9 (2), (2025), 10.61403/2689-6443.1352
Interdisciplinary Digital Health and Learning Survey Across Speech-Language Pathology, Technology, and Interior Design: Implications for Training in Rehabilitation and Aging-In-Place Practices.
Jennine Harvey, Yi-hsiang Chang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Megan Cuellar.
Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders, (2025)
Multigenerational Living: Designing for Chinese Immigrant Families in the United States
Dongniya Xiu, Connie Dyar, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Dana Vaux.
The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design, 19 (1), 143-167, (2024), 10.18848/2325-1662/cgp/v19i01/143-167
Anticipated satisfaction of technologies in the homes & lives of older adults to prolong independence
Emily Whelan, Connie Dyar, Keri Edwards, Elke Altenburger, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, B Johnson.
Online Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, (2023)
Multigenerational living style is back? An awareness for interior Designers
Dongniya Xiu, Connie Dyar, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
IDEC Exchange A Forum for Interior Design Education., 1 (Spring), 13-14, (2023)
Examining the diffusion of fall monitoring gerontechnology among older adults for aging-in-place
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
Journal of Aging and Social Change, 13 (1), 33-48, (2022), 10.18848/2576-5310/CGP/v13i01/33-48
Reading together: A way to bring older adults closely and increase place attachment
Thais C. Sehn, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Stan Ruecker, Luis Aymone.
PIXO – Journal of Architecture, City, and Contemporaneity, 4 (4), 32-51, (2020)
A case study of place attachment in rural and urban senior cohousing communities
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Melissa Lies, Mihyun Kang.
Housing and Society, 46 (1), 3-22, (2019)
Older adults’ perceptions on accessibility in a senior cohousing community. International Journal of Constructed Environment
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang, Rachael Sample.
International Journal of Constructed Environment, 10 (2), 9-25, (2019)
Brazilian older adults’ considerations on bed design features: using the importance-performance matrix and painful areas diagram
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang, Fernando Goncalves Amaral.
International Journal of Designed Objects, 12 (2), 35-50, (2018)
Other
Designing Cohousing Environments for Older Adults
Mihyun Kang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Wiley, 281-297, (2023), 10.1002/9781119857198.ch21
Presentations
Interdisciplinary Digital Health and Learning Survey: Implications for Technology in Speech-Language Pathology Training
Jennine Harvey, Yi-hsiang Chang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Megan Cuellar.
Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Seattle, WA, December, 2024
Virtual Reality & Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for Semantic Feature Analysis Training
Jennine Harvey, Megan Cuellar, Yi-hsiang Chang, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Seattle, WA, December, 2024
Belonging/Inclusion in Campus Spaces: Considering Caregiving and Intersectional Identities
Luke Russell, Chang Su-Russell, Elke Altenburger, Reem Bagais, Amy Bardwell, Reecia Orzeck, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
Annual Conference of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), Bellevue, WA, November, 2024
Multigenerational households in the United States: design for American Families
Dongniya Xiu, Connie Dyar, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
IDEC Annual Conference, New York City, NY, March, 2024
Aging simulation to build learning and empathy among interior design students.
Erica Elsey, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
EDRA53, Greenville, SC, June, 2022
Home spaces used as third places during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults living in the U.S.A. and in Brazil.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
IDEC, Online, March, 2022
Use of gaming program Unity for interior design virtual reality 3D modeling
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
IDEC, Online, March, 2022
Anticipated Satisfaction of Technologies in the Homes & Lives of Older Adults to Prolong Independence
Connie Dyar, Emily Whelan, Keri Edwards, Elke Altenburger, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Brenda Johnson.
IDEC National Fall Symposium, Virtual, October 1, 2021
Senior Co-Housing Dementia Care Facility; A Qualitative Study
Connie Dyar, Carly Aldridge, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
IDEC National Fall Symposium, Virtual, October 1, 2021
Difficulties for Aging-in-Place in a Senior Cohousing Community: A Pilot Study.
Carly Aldridge, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
EDRA52, Online, May, 2021
Social Interaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Adults at Home
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
EDRA52., Online, May, 2021
Interior design teaching at public universities in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira.
IDEC Annual Meeting, Online, March, 2021
The diffusion of gerontechnology for fall prevention, fall detection, and fall monitoring model testing
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
12th International Society of Gerontechnology (ISG) Conference, Trondheim, Norway., October, 2020
Examining home modifications for aging-in-place and older adults’ attitudes towards gerontechnologies for fall prevention, detection, and monitoring.
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
EDRA51, Tempe, AZ, May, 2020
Older adults’ technology readiness impact on perceived knowledge and attitudes towards home gerontechnologies for falls
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Kang.
2020 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Annual Meeting, Tulsa, OK, March, 2020
Reading together: A way to bring older adults closely and increase place attachment.
Thais C Sehn, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Stan Ruecker, Luis Aymone.
2019 IAPS Symposium: Ageing in Place in a World of Inequalities – How to Design Healthy Cities for All,, Pelotas, RS, Brazil, November, 2019
Influencing factors for desire to age-in-place: Older adults’ perceptions on interior design and home modifications
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Mihyun Kang.
EDRA50, Brooklyn, NY, May, 2019
Laying the groundwork for dementia friendly city centers: Community visioning and outcomes
Emily Roberts, Gabriela Fonseca Pereira, Heather Carter.
EDRA50, Brooklyn, NY, May, 2019