Dean, Stuart Weitzman School of Design

Dean, Stuart Weitzman School of Design

University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design seeks its next collaborative and integrative Dean who will bring energy, creativity, and strategic insight to guide the School as it continues to shape the future through innovation and collaboration.

The Stuart Weitzman School of Design prepares students to address complex sociocultural and environmental issues through thoughtful inquiry, creative expression, and innovation. The School encompasses creative practice, professional education, scholarship, applied research, and public engagement across architecture, city and regional planning, fine arts, historic preservation, and landscape architecture and regional planning.

The next Dean will bring the intellectual breadth to connect Weitzman’s distinct academic and professional cultures, establish a compelling strategic direction, set clear priorities, and translate vision into action in partnership with faculty and other stakeholders.

The School’s priorities include designing healthier and more accessible communities, advancing interdisciplinary innovation, developing climate and energy solutions, and strengthening communities through cultural exchange, heritage conservation, and public engagement. The next Dean will bring further focus and integration across these priorities, making clear choices about where Weitzman can lead and extending its intellectual ambition, visibility, and public impact.

The Dean will lead and sustain excellence in education, scholarship, creative practice, and research, strengthening connections across departments and Weitzman’s research centers, labs, and initiatives. The Dean will also steward Weitzman’s financial, physical, and human resources by strengthening philanthropic support and building relationships with alumni, donors, practitioners, civic and community partners, and other stakeholders.

The successful candidate will bring a distinguished record of achievement in research, creative work, education, and/or professional practice, with the academic credentials and/or professional experience necessary to qualify for appointment as a full professor with tenure at Weitzman. They will bring demonstrated strategic and administrative leadership, experience leading a complex organization, the ability to build productive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, and exceptional judgment, intellectual curiosity, and adaptability.

University of Pennsylvania will be assisted by Jackie Zavitz, Meghan Ashbrock, and Taylor Hayden of Heidrick & Struggles, Inc. Expressions of interest (CV and letter of interest) and nominations can be sent to PennWeitzmanDean@heidrick.com.

The University of Pennsylvania seeks talented students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the executive director of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs; Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street, Suite 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106; or (215) 898-6993.