Dean, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design

The University of Houston (UH) requests nominations and applications for the Dean of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design. This is a singular leadership opportunity at one of the nation’s most dynamic research universities, situated in a city that is simultaneously one of the world’s great built-environment laboratories and an emerging center of architectural and design culture. This is also a moment of significant transformation in architecture and design education, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, computational design, climate imperatives, and the blurring of disciplinary boundaries.

About the Role

The next Dean will be a forward-thinking leader who embraces transformation and positions the Hines College at the leading edge of design education. The successful candidate will be:

• An engaging, charismatic, and compassionate leader for the faculty;
• A strong advocate for the teaching, research, and practice mission of the College;
• A preeminent university citizen and leader who can represent the College campus-wide;
• An energetic and conscientious administrator with strong acumen for finances and strategic resource allocation;
• Familiar with evolving challenges facing students and faculty in higher education, architecture, interior architecture, environmental design, industrial design, and related fields;
• An energetic and visionary leader who will guide the College into its next era and support UH’s position as a nationally leading Tier One research university.

About the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design

Named in honor of legendary Houston developer and real estate icon Gerald D. Hines, the College of Architecture and Design is one of the premier architecture and design schools in the South and Southwest. The College is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and creative practice by leveraging its accomplishments and expertise on behalf of the University, the profession, and the city of Houston.

The Hines College offers degrees in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Environmental Design, and Industrial Design, with total enrollment of 677 (609 undergraduates and 68 graduate students). The College is distinguished by its commitment to integrating conceptual rigor with real-world application, producing graduates who are prepared to professionally and conceptually engage the full complexity of the built environment across disciplines and geographies.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Dean serves as the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of the Hines College and is responsible for providing energetic, visionary, and effective leadership in the following areas:

Academic Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Direct and oversee the programs of the College as well as develop strategic directions in concert with the University’s Strategic Plan;
• Articulate the long-range vision, specific strategies, and detailed administrative and fiscal provisions to ensure continued excellence;
• Work closely with University executive leadership and other Deans on multidisciplinary hiring, research, and teaching programs;
• Promote the University and the Hines College and actively participate in hands-on management and open decision-making in a culture of shared governance.

Faculty Appointments

• Recruit, appoint, reappoint, promote, and tenure faculty in the College;
• Work through established appointment, promotion, and tenure processes while maintaining their integrity;
• Implement long-range recruiting strategies in collaboration with the Provost;
• Meet or exceed the University’s recruiting objectives for quality and productivity with intentionality to maintain disciplinary representation and strategic goals.

Budgetary and Administrative Oversight

• Oversee the College’s budget and strategically allocate resources;
• Allocate resources to support faculty research, extramurally funded research, and graduate students and programs;
• Establish effective internal cost controls;
• Coordinate activities of program directors, faculty, associate and assistant Deans, and staff;
• Allocate academic and research facilities, plan for future facilities’ needs, oversee non-faculty staffing decisions, and develop collaborative programs with other UH colleges and divisions.

Stewardship and Development

• Represent the needs of the Hines College and UH to external constituents and donors on regional, national, and international levels;
• Articulate the philanthropic aspirations of the College in conjunction with the University’s long-range strategic plans;
• Collaborate with the President’s leadership team and other academic leaders to plan fundraising priorities and goals;
• Engage proactively with University development staff, officers, volunteer advisory boards, and the College’s academic leadership;
• Ensure philanthropic donations are well stewarded in accordance with donor expectations and communicated fully and timely.

Qualifications

The next Dean will possess a distinguished record of academic and professional achievement, superior interpersonal and management skills, and a demonstrated commitment to UH’s mission, vision, and students. Leading candidates should:

• Have an outstanding record of scholarly and/or creative achievement commensurate with appointment as a full professor in one of the College’s programs;
• Possess a terminal degree in architecture, design, or a closely related field;
• Demonstrate the capacity to bridge theory and practice;
• Possess the ability to serve as an engaging fundraiser and advocate for the College at local, national, and international levels;
• Further develop external relationships to increase philanthropic donations and stimulate productive partnerships;
• Have proven people skills and be a highly effective listener and communicator with both academic and non-academic audiences;
• Be a seasoned and decisive but also compassionate, empathetic servant leader with strong organizational and consensus-building skills;
• Have a commitment to providing students with a high-quality educational experience and addressing issues related to student success;
• Demonstrate a commitment to assessment and accountability measures to guide and enhance strategic planning goals;
• Have demonstrated ability to build multidisciplinary programs and create an internationally focused, professionally engaged, and outwardly-facing educational environment;
• Bring an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the Dean position and serve as a catalyst for new initiatives;
• Demonstrate familiarity with emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, computational design, and design automation, and their implications for practice and pedagogy;
• Be adept at fiscal management, both in establishing and implementing budgets and in effectively allocating resources;
• Share UH’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and resilience, and to the enrichment of its faculty, staff, and students.