Dean

The University of Michigan, one of the world’s leading public research universities, invites applications and nominations for the next dean of the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (Taubman College). This person will have the opportunity to lead an influential college at a moment when the disciplines of architecture and urban planning are being shaped by technological transformation, climate change, and shifting global development patterns.

Taubman College occupies a powerful position as a design and planning school embedded in a university of exceptional scale and resources, with direct engagement in the Great Lakes region and in the dynamic urban context of Detroit, as well as nationally and internationally. Taubman College maintains core programs in architecture and urban and regional planning that anchor its reputation, and has recently built momentum with its urban technology degrees, which will also expand the College’s presence in Detroit. Taubman College provides opportunities for interdisciplinarity, agility, and close faculty-student engagement within the context of the University of Michigan’s access to research infrastructure and cross-campus collaboration.

The next dean will sharpen Taubman College’s identity in an increasingly competitive global landscape. They will leverage the College’s unique assets to increase recognition by prospective students, faculty, and partners, and build upon the College’s position as a leading voice shaping the future of the built environment. The dean must navigate shifting enrollment dynamics while building financial resilience and deepening both internal cohesion and external partnerships. The successful candidate will bring credibility in scholarship and practice and will provide decisive leadership in a complex academic environment. They will be energized by the opportunity to shape a college with significant potential to contribute solutions to the urgent challenges facing the built environment today.

The University of Michigan has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent to Ben Tobin, Nella Young, and Alaine Small below.

The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.