Dean Search for the Fay Jones
School of Architecture and Design

The University of Arkansas is seeking outstanding candidates for the position of dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. Learn more about the position, search committee and timeline.

The mission of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design is to advance design excellence through a multi-disciplinary education reinforcing place-responsive design in service to Arkansas, the nation, and the world. The School was started in 1946, when the first architecture classes were offered as part of the College of Engineering in response to the post-World War II building boom. In 1975, the Landscape Architecture program was established as part of the Fay Jones School. The Interior Architecture and Design program was founded in 1978 in the Department of Home Economics and joined the school in 2010. 

Today, the School enjoys a national reputation for producing outstanding designers who are well prepared for professional practice, as well as for further graduate study, teaching, and other allied disciplines such as construction, computational design, public policy,  history, and historic preservation. Between 2017 and 2024, the student population doubled from 502 to 1,006, the largest proportional increase in student enrollment on campus. Full-time faculty in the school increased 17% over the same time frame. The faculty comprises approximately 60 members, including professors in practice who are renowned leaders in design practice and research. The School's staff of approximately 20 full-time employees plays a critical role in supporting student services, advancement, operations, technology, and administration. The School—like the University and the state—has a strong foundational commitment to access and student success. 

The University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design has engaged the firm Isaacson, Miller to manage this search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website.

Ben Tobin, Partner
Nella Young, Senior Associate
Alaine Small, Managing Search Coordinator
Isaacson, Miller