Convincing Rochelle Horne to accept a compliment or an honourable mention is nearly impossible. If asked, she’ll credit her success to the students who have come through her classroom, the industry partners who have offered support and opportunities, and her colleagues who teach alongside her.

There is an ever-increasing network of interior design professionals who credit their professional success to Horne’s ability to guide, instruct and inspire them in and beyond the classroom, however. Eleven years-worth of Lakeland College interior design technology graduates, in fact.

That’s how long Horne, instructor and program head for the interior design technology program, has worked at Lakeland. And this spring, the impact she has had on the future leaders of the interior design world was recognized with an Educator of the Year Honourable Mention award from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

It is the inaugural year for the NKBA’s Educator of the Year award, which honours educators who significantly contribute to the industry through teaching, curriculum development and inspiring future generations of industry leaders.

“We are proud and not in the least surprised that Rochelle has received this honourable mention,” says Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College. “I am constantly inspired by her level of innovation, how passionate she is about student success and how dedicated she is to creating exceptional hands-on learning experiences for our students. She has impacted generations of Lakeland graduates and inspired new leaders in interior design.”

Horne was drawn to interior design while studying fine art at the University of Guelph, when she took an elective in sustainable design. By the time she’d finished the course, she knew she wanted to shift career directions.

“Part of the appeal is the creative outlet in interior design and part of it is the problem-solving,” Horne says. “There’s something tangible at the end. Your ideas are getting translated into drawings and then a space for humans to experience.”

She studied design in British Columbia before working professionally, eventually moving to Alberta to start her own firm. After nine years in the industry, she started teaching at Lakeland.

“Even at design school, I knew I wanted to eventually go back and teach,” Horne says. “I enjoy guiding and coaching the development of my students. I love seeing how they can be successful on their own merit with the knowledge I’ve imparted and the skills that they’ve worked on.”

In such a small profession, that growing network of alumni contacts is one aspect that makes Lakeland’s program so successful. Alumni reach out with work and practicum opportunities for current students. They also credit much of their success – including awards and accolades, opening their own firms and more – to the example Horne set in her classroom.

She, however, is quick to share the credit.

“I had strong examples of instructors, including peers, especially in post-secondary, who helped me understand my own learning style,” Horne says. “With our small class sizes, I’m also able to know who the students are, taking the time to invest in them.

“It confirms for me that I’m in the right place, doing the right thing.”

It's important to Horne that her classroom is safe and welcoming to students to explore their ideas.

“I aim to provide feedback in a constructive and supportive manner while ensuring that students address all the essential points," she explains.

Whatever it is that sets Horne’s teaching apart, it leaves a lasting impression. Her past students never hesitate to share the lessons they learned from her.

“The instructors at Lakeland were really gracious with questions and when it came time to share their field experience,” says Payton Patterson, Class of 2016 and member of the NKBA’s Top 30 under Thirty for 2024. “Rochelle would pull out her own personal projects as examples during class and it was so cool to learn from people who actually had experience and success in the field.”

“I love Rochelle,” says Caydence Lundgren, current interior design technology student. “She brings such a fun energy into the room, which makes learning so much better. When you know that your instructor is passionate about something, it just makes you passionate about it as well. There's this passion for design at Lakeland compared to other schools.”