Dean - College of Environmental Design

Search for the Dean

University of California Berkeley, College of Environmental Design

Berkeley, CA

The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), the nation’s premier public research university, invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the College of Environmental Design (CED).

Since its founding in 1959, the College of Environmental Design has achieved distinction for its integration of architecture, planning, and landscape design with an emphasis on environmental and social justice within the built environment. Ranked #1 for Architecture and the Built Environment (2025 QS World University Rankings) among public universities, CED is renowned for theory, research, innovation, and practice focused on the built environment, with particular attention to design excellence, climate solutions, and new materials and technologies. The College brings together a wide range of disciplines and boasts strong connections with professions and practitioners, positioning its undergraduates to be highly competitive candidates for master’s programs and its graduate students to be sought out by public entities and firms in the private sector.

The dean will be joining CED at an opportune time for impact—locally, nationally, and globally—as the CED community is eager for its next leader to shape a cohesive and forward-thinking vision. This vision should build upon CED’s pioneering focus on how the built environment can improve lives. The next dean will also help strengthen connections across a college of 211 renowned faculty and committed staff, an extraordinarily talented and diverse student body of just over 1,200 students, and a network of nearly 24,000 distinguished alumni dedicated to an expansive curriculum and connections across disciplines.

Building on CED’s unique identity and strengths, the next dean will be a strategic leader who excels in fostering collaborations and connections among scholars, practitioners, students, alumni, and other stakeholders to unite the various approaches to environmental design. This leader will need to navigate the complexities and opportunities of a public university, serve as a dynamic advocate for both CED and UC Berkeley, deeply value and uphold the principles of shared governance, and thoughtfully balance the College’s teaching, research, and practice priorities centered in design excellence. The next dean will have the opportunity to build on CED’s strong reputation, unique composition of programs, innovative pedagogy, and blend of research and practice, leading the College into its next era of excellence, maintaining its prominence in the Bay Area and beyond.

To lead CED to new levels of success, the dean will address the following opportunities and challenges:

• Inspire, lead, and execute upon an integrative vision that builds on the College’s distinct identity, fosters interdisciplinary collaborations, and supports UC Berkeley’s mission and goals.
• Grow and steward resources to achieve the vision and ambitions of CED.
• Strengthen operational infrastructure and recruit, retain, and support a world-class faculty and staff.
• Promote an equitable learning environment and the academic and professional success of all CED students.
• Serve as a visible intellectual leader locally, nationally, and internationally to elevate CED’s brand and reputation.

Applicants must have a terminal degree at the time of application and submit a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For best consideration, please submit materials by August 20, 2025.

Applicants must apply directly to UC Berkeley at: https://apptrkr.com/6325911. Electronic submission of materials is required.

Inquiries, nominations, and referrals should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-california-berkeley-c….

The posted https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/compensation/deans-sal… set the pay ranges for deans. UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design dean position is included in Band 2: $239,600 - $611,100. The minimum salary that UC Berkeley expects to pay for this position is $375,000.

 Courtney Wilk-Mandel, Ben Tobin, Lauren Wilkes, and Cara Meyers

Isaacson, Miller

UC Berkeley offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision and retirement plans as well as moving, relocation, and housing assistance.

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent withhttps://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/4400.html and University of California Academic Personnel policy (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf). These values are embedded in our https://chancellor.berkeley.edu/about/principles-community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For more information, please refer to the https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf… the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.

This is a sensitive position and is subject to a criminal background check.

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. Consistent with this commitment, and with California State law, finalists for this position will be required to complete an Employment Misconduct Disclosure Questionnaire form indicating if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, and provide information related to investigations and appeals. Finalists will also be required to complete and sign an Authorization of Information Release form that authorizes current and/or previous employers to release information regarding past substantiated allegations of misconduct. Finalists will only be subject to institutional reference checks if and when they are selected as the candidate to whom the University would like to extend a formal offer. More information is available on https://apo.berkeley.edu/misconduct-disclosure-review.