UT’s School of Architecture will welcome its first female dean, Michelle Addington, this July.

The University announced the new dean Feb. 27, and Addington will begin July 1, replacing interim Dean Elizabeth Danze, who has served since former Dean Frederick Steiner resigned last spring.

Addington is a professor at Yale University in both the School of Architecture and the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She holds degrees in mechanical engineering and architecture and design, and over her career she has worked at NASA and Harvard University. 

“(Addington) demonstrated that she’s aware of what’s going on out there, (and) she is able to speak pretty directly to us about what we need to pay attention to,” said architecture professor Richard Cleary, chair of the dean search committee. “She has … (the) ability to look at architecture and planning and the other design professions that we have in the school from a variety of perspectives based on her own experiences.”

Architecture sophomore Janice Kim serves as vice president of the Undergraduate Architecture Student Council and was able to ask dean candidates — including Addington — questions during a forum. Kim said she was impressed that most of the candidates during the dean search were female.

“I think having an empowered female leader within our school is really phenomenal, actually,” Kim said. “Our current interim Dean, Elizabeth Danze, is very similar to (Addington). They’re accomplished female architects and leaders, and I think just having someone long-term like (Addington) be the head of our school will be fantastic, not only for female participation in architecture, which actually is increasing … but also just to encourage future women leaders.” 

Addington has a focus on sustainable energy, advanced materials and new technologies, which Kim said will help the school move to the forefront among other institutions, especially in architectural technology.   

“The school’s previous deans have set the bar very high, and I look forward to meeting the challenge ahead,” Addington said in a UT press release. “In a world undergoing rapid change, the thought leaders of tomorrow must be able to negotiate shifting terrain across multiple disciplines. The School of Architecture at UT Austin is uniquely poised to chart a path forward as we develop the next generation of thinkers and designers of the built environment.”