Department Head of Architecture

The Department of Architecture is grounded in a longstanding culture of interdisciplinary collaboration. Throughout its history, the department has developed strong connections with units across the University, creating opportunities for integrated teaching, research, and design exploration. This collaborative ecosystem brings together diverse expertise in every dimension of the built environment. The next Department Head will value and strengthen these relationships while advancing architecture's distinctive disciplinary voice and ambitions.

The Department Head will lead the department through significant changes in higher education, the architectural profession, and at Penn State. Working collaboratively with faculty and administrators across the School and College, the Department Head will identify new opportunities and strategic directions in response to complex institutional, financial, academic, and societal challenges. The successful candidate will demonstrate effective communication, sound judgment, fiscal responsibility, and the ability to make timely, decisive decisions. They will embrace change as an opportunity for innovation while upholding the academic excellence, integrity, and values of the Department, the School, the College, and the University.

The next Department Head will work to implement the Department's 2026-2030 strategic plans and support strategic goals and initiatives across the School, College, and University. Candidates must possess an established record of teaching, scholarship, and service, as well as an active research agenda and/or creative practice that contributes to the field of architecture and advances the department's scholarly and creative impact.

The Department

The Department of Architecture provides a nationally and internationally recognized education responsive to the social, environmental, technological, and cultural challenges of the twenty-first century. Through excellence in teaching, research, outreach, advising, and service, the Department prepares students to contribute meaningfully to society and the built environment.

Administratively housed within the Stuckeman School in Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture, the Department includes approximately 32 full- and part-time faculty members, 316 undergraduate students, and 62 graduate students. It offers professional B.Arch. and M.Arch degrees, as well as research-based M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Since its inception, the department has expanded its degree programs and strengthened faculty research. Its research, creative practice, and scholarship continue to flourish through national and international exhibitions, symposia, design-build projects, publications, sponsored research, and other recognized contributions to the field.

More information is available on the Department of Architecture website: https://arts.psu.edu/academics/department-of-architecture/

In support of this mission, the Department Head will support the following core areas: 

Educate undergraduate and graduate students in architecture and prepare them for lives of creative engagement and professional excellence in practice, research, and inquiry; Foster exemplary work in architectural design, theory, critical analysis, and research within a studio-centered environment; Support and embrace diversity in all its forms across the student body, faculty, staff, and curriculum; Provide an educational environment that connects architecture with the design disciplines, the arts and sciences, and engineering, while engaging students and faculty in urgent contemporary social, cultural, and environmental issues; Integrate professional and environmental ethics, critical thinking, research inquiry, creative practice, life-long learning, and service to society throughout the curriculum; Cultivate a teaching and learning environment that values collaboration and teamwork alongside individual research and creative activity; and Expand outreach to local, national, and international communities in support of Penn State's land-grant mission.

Responsibilities of the Department Head

Lead the day-to-day administration of the department; Recruit faculty to contribute to the department's initiatives through tenure and non-tenure track roles; Manage the promotion and tenure review processes; Conduct annual assessments of all faculty and 5-year post-tenure reviews; Maintain program accreditation and support and develop curricular initiatives; Support and develop graduate education; Support and promote faculty development, research, creative work and scholarship within an R-1 university setting, including the pursuit of external funding to sustain and strengthen these activities; Demonstrate responsible and sustainable fiscal management of the departmental budget; work collaboratively with the financial staff and officers in the School and College; Serve as a member of the School leadership team; Serve as a member of the College academic leadership team; Engage with the College's Office of Advancement to develop opportunities for alumni relationships and philanthropic support; Maintain a research agenda or creative practice; Uphold and lead by example the Penn State values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. Assure faculty within the Department of Architecture are upholding the Penn State values.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Terminal Degree: A terminal degree in architecture, such as a professional Master of Architecture (M. Arch), a Ph.D. in Architecture, or Doctoral of Design (D. Des) in Architecture; Rank Eligibility: A distinguished record of scholarship, peer-reviewed publications, or creative design practice that meets the criteria for a tenured appointment at the rank of Full Professor at Penn State; Administrative Experience: Experience in departmental or college-level leadership, such as serving as a Program Director, Department Chair/Head, or Associate Dean, or having equivalent administrative experiences; demonstrated oversight of strategic planning, budget planning and management, and personnel management; demonstrated familiarity with the promotion and tenure process; Teaching Excellence: A proven track record of architectural education at the undergraduate and graduate levels; Research Excellence: A proven track record of scholarly and/or creative achievement, and/or a record of pursuing and securing external support appropriate to the candidate's field of expertise; Accreditation Oversight: Proven capacity to manage professional NAAB accreditation processes and coordinate multi-tier degree paths; Leadership and Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to lead collegially, inclusively, respectfully, responsibly, and responsively, with a record of mentoring and supporting the success of a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff; Inclusive Excellence: Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all through leadership, teaching, research, and community engagement.

Desired Qualifications:

Professional Licensure: Professional architecture licensure in the United States; Research Leadership: Demonstrated international recognition and leadership in interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary research, including but not limited to a record of securing significant external funding and advancing research impact; Curricular Innovation: Experience with emerging technologies, AI literacy, experiential and proactive learning, and evolving modes of design and professional practice; Professional Engagement: A strong record of engagement with the architectural profession, industry, professional organizations, community partners, and/or public agencies; Fundraising and External Relations: Demonstrated experience cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, foundations, industry, and other external partners to advance academic, research, and departmental priorities; Global Engagement: Experience developing international academic, research, and professional partnerships that enhance the global visibility and impact of architectural education and scholarship.

Terms of Appointment
This is a 42-week appointment reporting directly to the School Director. The successful candidate must meet all employment background checks and be able to work in the United States by the time of hire.

Application

To apply, upload a cover letter addressing how your experiences and leadership practice have prepared you for the department head's responsibilities and qualifications listed above, and how you envision you will contribute to the mission of the department and the Stuckeman School. In addition, address how the Penn State values relate to your leadership experience. Include a full curriculum vitae, selected samples of scholarly and/or creative work, and the names and contact information of three references.            

For questions, contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Robin Thomas, rlt18@psu.edu . For full consideration, submissions must be received by November 9, 2026. The review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

The Stuckeman School

The Stuckeman School comprises three departments—Architecture, Graphic Design, and Landscape Architecture—and three research centers: the Center for Ecology + Design, the Hamer Center for Community Design, and the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing. The School also includes the Office for Access, Wellbeing, and Equity; the Office of Career Services; and the Office of Marketing and Communications.

The School provides shared administrative support, physical infrastructure, and endowment resources that promote the success and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff while fostering a culture of transdisciplinary collaboration. Its state-of-the-art, LEED Gold–certified building includes wood and metal shops, digital and analog fabrication facilities, an immersive environment learning lab, and extensive technological resources.

The department heads of Architecture and Landscape Architecture hold the Stuckeman Chair in Integrative Design. Additional endowments support chairs and professorships for senior faculty, a Career Development Professorship in Design for early-career faculty, and a competitive integrative research grant program open to faculty at all ranks. These resources also provide generous support for departmental initiatives, faculty research and travel, visiting critics, lectures and exhibitions, research assistants, and course enhancement.

The College of Arts & Architecture

Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture proudly serves as one of the major cultural centers between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The college is a comprehensive arts and design community committed to artistic and scholarly creativity, research and the preparation of specialized practitioners in all of the arts and design disciplines; to undergraduate general arts courses for all students; and to community engagement in its programs. The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Art History, the H. Campbell and Eleanor R. Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, the School of Music, the School of Theatre, and the School of Visual Arts. Please visit the units' websites to learn more about the degrees they offer to approximately 1,700 students. The college also includes the Center for the Performing Arts, the Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State Centre Stage, which serve as important cultural resources that provide educational outreach programs for Penn State and area communities. In addition, the college is home to research centers and institutes, which help to foster a vibrant culture of inquiry that promotes excellence within the arts and design disciplines, while at the same time leveraging the potential of a comprehensive research university. The college is housed in sixteen buildings that include performance and exhibition spaces as well as specialized studios and labs.

The University

Founded in 1855, Penn State is a multi-campus, land grant, public research university that educates students from around the world and supports individuals and communities through integrated programs of teaching, research, and service. With over $800 million in annual research expenditures, Penn State ranks among the top 20 U. S. research universities.  “Advancing the Arts and Humanities” and “Stewarding our Planet's Resources” are two of five thematic priorities relevant to our department in the University's Strategic Plan (strategicplan.psu.edu).

As a land grant university, Penn State is responsible for providing a wide array of programs in professional and technical disciplines, as well as a balanced offering of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and sciences. Recently the provost established funds for multi-disciplinary research institutes offering unique opportunities.

The University Park campus is located within State College, PA, which was recently ranked number 5 in a ranking of top college towns by the American Institute for Economic Research, and number 15 in a ranking of the Safest College Towns in America by Safewise. State College has excellent public school system and is a family-friendly town. Located in a valley in the Appalachian Mountains, in Centre County, Pennsylvania, employment at Penn State offers incredible opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the central Pennsylvania outdoors combined with the cultural, athletic, and entertainment opportunities a large university community can bring, and is within drivable distance from New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington DC.

 

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Due to the financial and fiduciary responsibilities of this position, successful completion of a credit history check will be required in addition to standard background checks.      

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

 

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

 

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

  Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

To apply, visit https://psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic/job/Penn-State-University-Park/Department-Head-of-Architecture_REQ_0000083106-1 je-407214e434cb4953a51b8b8a49e5e641