Dean, School of Architecture

Texas A&M University seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as Dean of the School of Architecture. This is a compelling opportunity to join an ambitious and engaged community as it strives to improve human lives and the world through thoughtful design, planning, and construction. Reporting to the provost and vice president for academic affairs, the dean will set and implement an innovative strategy to grow the School of Architecture’s interdisciplinary collaborations, external partnerships, and multidisciplinary reputation. Alongside a cohort of new leaders at the university, the dean will work to gain recognition for Texas A&M as the preeminent institution for creative scholarship, transformational teaching and learning, and impactful service.

Texas A&M’s School of Architecture is one of the largest architecture schools in the nation. With a budget of approximately $25 million, the school enrolls over 2,600 students in 13 degree programs across its three departments: Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, and Construction Science. A skilled relationship builder and communicator, the dean will increase collaboration across these distinctive departments and amplify their profound interdisciplinary impact. In addition, the dean will support the school’s strong position in the professions, showcasing its robust applied scholarship, research centers, experiential learning programs, and graduate career placement rates. They will also strengthen external relationships and grow resources to elevate the national and international reputation of the school.

It is a pivotal moment in the architectural disciplines, as advanced technologies are poised to play a central role in the delivery of design and construction services. The dean will be creative and entrepreneurial, embracing cutting-edge technologies to support the school’s mission and prepare students for successful careers in rapidly evolving industries. A transparent leader, the dean will welcome engagement from the school’s dedicated faculty, staff, and students, while benefitting from alumni input, to collectively address contemporary challenges in higher education and the design, planning, and construction industries.

The School of Architecture is part of one of the largest and most productive public research universities in the world. The dean will aptly navigate the university’s large and complex structure to advocate for the critical importance of the school’s disciplines and units. They will be a steadfast spokesperson for the school, sharing broadly about its impact and scholarship. The dean will anticipate the needs of school stakeholders and will use sound judgment to respond to competing priorities including growing enrollments, teaching and research space availability, and faculty and staff recruitment and retention.

The successful candidate will have a distinguished record of academic and administrative leadership and will have demonstrated achievement in research and practice commensurate with an appointment as full professor. They will implement new technologies, support innovative teaching, and have a collaborative and energizing leadership style. They will have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and will prioritize shared decision-making and interdisciplinarity.

Texas A&M University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment.

Patti Darby with Texas A&M Executive Searches is overseeing this search in collaboration with Isaacson, Miller.

The Dean of the School of Architecture will be prepared to address the following key opportunities and challenges.

Implement an innovative, ambitious, and strategic plan for the school’s next chapter

The school strives for national and international recognition and seeks a collectively ambitious leader with a compelling vision to guide its next steps. In concert with the university’s strategic priorities and goals and building from the school’s existing strategic plan, the dean will collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to implement a visionary plan for the school’s future. The dean will need to skillfully assess and capitalize on the many programs, perspectives, and talents within the school and empower faculty, staff, and students to explore new ways of thinking, designing, and doing. This leader will ensure that all newly defined goals have measurable milestones and that school stakeholders remain informed about the school’s progress toward its goals. The dean will value Texas A&M University’s history and traditions – specifically its land-grant mission – while ensuring that the School of Architecture provides transformational education, cutting-edge research, and impactful service.

Build community cohesion by prioritizing faculty, staff, and student professional success

The dean will model Aggie Core Values and respect shared governance, welcoming and engaging school constituents in the work of improving the school, the university, and the world through design. A visible and transparent leader, the dean will ensure that faculty, staff, and students can access educational and professional development opportunities and feel supported, engaged, and connected to their work at the school. From advancing technology to space availability, the dean will respond with care and creativity to community concerns to ensure that the school is a premier place to work and learn. The dean will support faculty development and retention, recognize and reward staff contributions, and attend to student needs. The dean will also grow the community by attracting and retaining talented faculty and staff to support the school’s mission.

Deepen interdisciplinary collaboration within the school and across campus

The dean will work to increase interdisciplinary collaboration in teaching, research, and practice across the school’s three departments while respecting and championing each department’s distinct needs and successes. There is a tremendous opportunity for the school to contribute to and benefit from collaborations with other schools, centers, and institutes at Texas A&M. The dean will work together with school faculty, staff, students, and administrators to identify and implement cross-disciplinary and inter-school partnerships, research, and initiatives. A skilled administrator, the dean will nimbly navigate a large and complex university structure and advocate for the critical importance of the school’s disciplines. They will match the ambitious energy of peer university leaders and will partner with the president, provost, and deans of related fields (e.g., health sciences, engineering) to expand teaching, research, and practice in creative and impactful ways.

Increase external partnerships to grow the school’s reputation, impact, and resources

Building on the school’s current strong position and recognition by the professions, the dean will Increase the school’s partnerships with varied external stakeholders. The school is primed to cultivate closer ties with industry leaders, professional organizations and membership groups, community members, and alumni. These relationships are foundational to the school’s ability to provide transformational education and practice opportunities to students and solve real, complex problems in the built and natural world. The dean will seek out mutually beneficial relationships with professionals who can sustainably support internships, school-industry partnerships, and high impact service-learning programs. The dean will also work with development colleagues to seek out donors, build meaningful relationships with alumni, and increase alumni giving to ensure that the school maintains ample resources to support its future success.

Expand the school’s unique research enterprise

Situated in a Carnegie-classified R1 university, the School of Architecture performs meaningful research and obtains research funding from internal and external sources. The dean will recognize the diversity of research interests at the school and work to grow the school’s research enterprise, providing necessary support to individual researchers and research centers. The dean will also prioritize the mentorship of junior faculty, encouraging strong training programs and providing administrative support as they build their research expertise. Eager to champion the school’s research strengths, the dean will also build relationships with funders, advocate for research space, and explore resources and tools that enable research growth.

As the head administrator and academic officer of the School of Architecture, the dean leads the school in maintaining its commitment to innovative teaching; its dedication to professional education, service, and outreach; and a rich and varied research portfolio. The dean manages all strategic, programmatic, academic, financial, personnel, and management operations for the school. They oversee the school’s budget and ensure resources are allocated appropriately, while tirelessly advocating for internal and external funding to support the school’s mission and success.

The dean is supported by a leadership team that includes three department heads, the executive associate dean, the associate dean for international programs and facilities, and the associate dean for academic affairs. The dean’s office also includes the assistant dean of community wellness and engagement, the assistant dean for graduate studies, the assistant dean for finance and administration, the director of marketing and communications, an executive assistant, and events and administrative coordinators.

The search committee recognizes that no single candidate will bear all the ideal qualifications, but it seeks candidates with many of the following qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• A terminal degree in the field of architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, design, or construction sciences is required. An outstanding record of academic and professional achievement, and scholarly and creative impact commensurate with an appointment as a full professor with tenure.
• Demonstrated effective record in a senior leadership-level role of an academic institution or an equally complex organization.
• Evidence of dynamic leadership, outstanding communication, and administrative skills to articulate an inspiring vision for the school’s future.
• Strong record of faculty and staff mentorship and development.
• Demonstrated administrative capability, including the ability to delegate, prioritize, collaborate, and make transparent decisions.
• Experience managing higher education operations, including enrollment growth, faculty recruitment and retention, budgetary matters, curricular reviews, space negotiations, and accreditation assessments.
• A record of promoting a welcoming culture that respects all perspectives, talents, and identities.
• A strong commitment to student academic and professional success.
• Demonstrated fundraising experience and success.
• Financial acumen and a demonstrated record of fiduciary transparency and accountability.
• Strong record of interdisciplinary work, particularly with leaders in other schools/colleges.
• An unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching, practice, and profession-driven applied research and public service.
• Dedication to the mission of Texas A&M University and a commitment to Aggie Core Values.