School Director - University of Florida

School Director

The University of Florida, School of Architecture is seeking a visionary leader, architect, and educator to serve as Director. The position is a 12-month appointment and will be available from July 1, 2025. This is a pivotal and exciting moment for the profession and the school. The University of Florida (UF) is a top public, comprehensive, land-grant, research institution, recently ranked 6^th among all U.S. public universities by U.S. News and World Report. UF is one of the three members of the Association of American Universities in Florida and is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity,” and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). UF is dedicated to achieving and maintaining a culture of educational and research preeminence. The School of Architecture shares this drive and wishes to build upon a strong tradition of design and teaching excellence, external engagement, and student achievement.

The College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) is one of the few colleges in the nation that houses design, construction and planning under one college. With programs in architecture, construction management, interior design, landscape architecture and urban planning, historic preservation, and sustainability and the built environment, students are exposed to an interdisciplinary reflection of the world around them. The Bruno E. and Maritz F. Ramos Collaboratory, opening in 2025, will further unite the disciplines under one roof. This new facility includes a research hub to house all DCP research centers, a large multipurpose hall and seminar rooms for lecture series and symposiums, creative collision common spaces, and a digital modeling and fabrication space.

The School of Architecture’s foundation is its strength in architectural design-focused education. The program has approximately 425 undergraduate and 200 Master’s and PhD students. There are three off-campus programs: CityLab-Orlando, which graduated the first class of Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) students in the U.S., CityLab-Jacksonville, and the Vicenza Institute of Architecture in Vicenza, Italy. International studies play an important role in the School curriculum with almost 75% of the student body participating in study abroad programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The 32 full-time faculty of the School of Architecture produce research, creative works, and design scholarship through independent initiatives, centers, and institutes. The interdisciplinary Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER) connects faculty and students from the School of Architecture with diverse research opportunities from across the College of Design, Construction, and Planning and the University. The School of Architecture offers graduate concentrations and certificates in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Design, Public Interest Design (PID), Acoustics, Themed Environments Integration (TEI), Healthcare Design Integration (HDI), Building Performance, and Architectural Design Pedagogy.

The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Design, Construction and Planning. He/she is expected to provide ambitious inspirational leadership in teaching, research, and service, and actively advance the University of Florida’s goals and objectives including significant attention to improving ranking, preeminence initiatives, outreach and recruitment. The Director’s duties include developing a strategic direction for the School; academic, research, fiscal, personnel, and School administration; representing the School within the College, University, the profession, and the community; and advancing funded and interdisciplinary research. The Director will also actively participate in fundraising efforts for the School in coordination with the College’s Advancement Team and the University of Florida Foundation.

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Candidates are expected to hold an advanced degree in Architecture and either a license to practice architecture or a PhD in Architecture, Architectural History, the Building Sciences or Urban Design.

It is anticipated that the appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor (preferred) with tenure.

Applicants must demonstrate a record of excellence and leadership, such as significant contributions to research, teaching, scholarship, design/creative work, and professional practice in the fields of architecture.

In order to be considered candidates must submit: 1) Letter of interest that details the applicant’s qualifications for this position; 2) Curriculum vitae, including relevant administrative experience; 3) Selected work demonstrating the applicant’s research/scholarship, creative activity, teaching and/or outreach; and 4) Names and contact information for a minimum of three (3) references. References will be contacted only after communication with the applicant has occurred.

To ensure full consideration, the required information listed above should be submitted by 28 October 2024, at which time the search committee will begin reviewing applications. Applications received after this date may or may not be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority.

Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Ravi Srinivasan, Search Committee Chair (Phone 352-294-1406 or sravi@ufl.edu).

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. If any accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law. All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a review of criminal records, reference checks, and verification of education. Further information is available at http://www.dcp.ufl.edu.