Mary Anne Alabanza Akers, Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design Dean. Image courtesy of Cal Poly Pomona.

The fabric of architectural academia is changing. As leadership turnover is more apparent than ever before, I wondered if the demands of an academic leader have outgrown the stereotypical "profile" of what qualifies a dean or department chair. Is there room for deans to lead and make changes beyond their bureaucratic administrative duties? How much experience is enough experience to be "qualified to lead?" 

I discussed these questions when I got the opportunity to connect with Cal Poly Pomona's new dean for their College of Environmental Design, Mary Anne Alabanza Akers. She joins the institution after heading Morgan State University's School of Architecture + Planning as its dean for 14 years. Not only has Akers served at a prominent HBCU — she was also its founding dean. 

During our conversation, for our latest Deans List series, we unpacked her childhood in the Philippines, her journey to attending school and working in the United States, her commitment to academia, and what it means to be an educator.

It's not every day you come across a Filipino architect, urban planner, and architectural dean, for that matter. To my knowledge, there are a handful of notable deans and academic leaders at architecture programs outside of Asia who identify as Filipino, but it's not often you hear their stories. The opportunity to speak with Dean Akers provided insight and hopefulness as to how architectural academia can continue to evolve and change for the better. 

Having grown up in a Filipino household in California myself, listening to her words and personal anecdotes rang differently for me. We were able to bond and shared familial upbringings and cultural similarities. We discussed how cultural identities or re-awakenings trickle into educational and professional opportunities for those from immigrant families or immigrants themselves. We talked, at length, about how architectural academia can better serve students, the importance of decolonizing the architectural curriculum, what she hopes to accomplish during her tenure, and that when teaching students about land, it's vital to stress that "land is not neutral."

"My dad is an architect," Akers shared. "He was the city architect for Baguio and founded the first architecture program north of Manila. I grew up in his office because he was also teaching at night. He would sit my siblings and me in the back of the classroom or studio and give us paper and pencils. We would draw while he was there lecturing about architecture." 

With an upbringing like this, it's easy to imagine that studying to become an architect was a plausible choice for Akers as a young girl. She then talked about her mother, however, and shared how that work influenced her in more ways than she could have imagined. "As a young girl, I thought I wanted to be an architect, but then I saw my mom's impact and learned about people and the built environment. You see, my mom was a social worker and psychologist." 

These introductory moments with Dean Akers helped paint a picture of what type of designer and leader she aspired to be. I listened as she narrated her journey as a student, young designer, community engager, and academic. She stressed the importance of identity and how a student's background can trickle into their design sensibilities and professional pursuits.

How did your upbringing and experiences in the Philippines shape your perspectives when you immigrated to the U.S.?

While I had strong influences from my architect father and social worker/psychologist mother, I knew I wanted to do something within the built environment. In college, I majored in sociology and was taken by Jane Jacob's books, which really changed my outlook on things. It was her books that turned me on to urban planning. Before I immigrated to the United States to continue my education, my parents told me, "iha [daughter in Tagalog], go make your future." So with the $5,000 they gave me, I went.

In addition to your experience as an academic, you have multiple degrees, which I find amazing. You have a BA in Sociology, an MA in Urban Planning, an MA in Creative Writing, and finally, a Ph.D. in Social Science-Urban Planning. Were there big takeaways during your studies in the Philippines and the U.S.?

You know, it was here in the U.S. that I saw and understood discrimination and racism. When I got an assistantship at the Center for Urban Affairs (at Michigan State University), it was there that I learned more about community engagement and marginalized communities. It was a very formative experience for me. Those experiences led me to teach urban planning at the University of Georgia from 1991 to 2007. 

With my experiences and work in Michigan and Georgia, I worked with former President Jimmy Carter’s administration as the University of Georgia’s Liason and helped initiate the Atlanta Project. I also helped start microenterprise programs for the Center for Black Women's Wellness in Atlanta and several other nonprofits within the state. Much of my work and research have all been community-driven and finding ways to work and help marginalized communities.

And all those experiences eventually led you to Morgan State.

Yes. I was the founding dean of Morgan State's School of Architecture + Planning (SA+P) and led the school for 14 years. 

I can only imagine the weight and responsibilities that came with the role. 

You know, change doesn't happen overnight. Prior to working as Morgan State's dean, I spent a lot of time studying and working in these marginalized communities where you see inequalities. Everyone has a passion...a calling. When you're called to do something, to do more, you have to listen to your inner voice, your babaylan.

That's a word I feel like I should know, but I'm not familiar with that Tagalog word. What does that mean?

The word, in a sense, is this Indigenous, inner voice. We all have that spirit in us. That Indigenous female spirit. You know, all our Indigenous communities in the Philippines and other parts of the world have been led by women. We need to listen to that babaylan voice, that inner voice to make a change. It strengthens and develops with age and experience. [She laughs] I had a fire in me when I started out at Morgan State. It was a different fire than I have now. [She smiles] Now that I'm here at Cal Poly Pomona, the fire is more sustaining. You learn as you grow older and are put in these leadership positions. 

...we need to revisit how we teach our students and how we center our student's experiences on projects. We cannot teach our students that one aesthetic is better than the other. I would hope that is something we build as a community. It's about authenticity, not rhetoric inclusivity.

Now that you're at Cal Poly Pomona, what do you hope to focus your time on as dean?

If we are just looking at the curriculum, we need to observe how our student's identities, cultural identities, are not centered in the curriculum. I understand we have accreditations and certain skills to develop and theories (mainly Eurocentric) to teach, but we need to revisit how we teach our students and how we center our student's experiences on projects. We cannot teach our students that one aesthetic is better than the other. I would hope that is something we build as a community. It's about authenticity, not rhetoric inclusivity.

What differences have you noticed being here on the West Coast and in Southern California compared to the Midwest and the South?

I find this environment to be very stimulating. I'm learning so much about the Cal State Systems and cultures here. One good thing about Southern California, particularly, is its cultural identity and expression. I truly believe that my "leadership brand," if you call it, is making sure students understand not to hide or suppress their cultural heritage because that's so important as they move along in their careers. It's important to be confident in your identity, and it could be cultural identity, gender, etc.

Cal Poly Pomona is one of several Cal States that have become a pipeline for many students interested in architecture, especially students of color. What do you hope to see during your tenure?

We are the minority-majority. So being here and observing has given me that "fertile soil" to really plant seeds in students' lives. And they clamor for it. They clamor for DEI experiences and decolonizing the curriculum. One example is asking what do you know of your heritage? Architectural academia is still very Eurocentric. I think that's what Cal Poly Pomona and the College of Environmental Design are trying to build on this tapestry of multicultural backgrounds. 

I truly believe that my "leadership brand," if you call it, is making sure students understand not to hide or suppress their cultural heritage because that's so important as they move along in their careers. It's important to be confident in your identity, and it could be cultural identity, gender, etc.

What drives you as an academic leader? 

Something I'm passionate about is interdisciplinary-ship. Each of the departments here at Cal Poly Pomona (architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, art, and regenerative studies) have mostly worked independently, and that's something I want to change. That's a big thing for me. The design world isn't built in siloed areas anymore. It's the blending of these disciplines that will make us better, more transformational designers.

As the new Dean, what do you want your tenure to look like? What does the future look like for the school?

I talk a lot about interdisciplinary studies. When we design built environments, we can't be siloed. Right now, there are a few areas of practice and research that I would like to promote. They are already here within the school, but they need a little push. Interdisciplinar\ity should be the foundation for this. The first area is health and wellness. When you talk about health and wellness, my vision isn't just about the built environment or a building. It's not just about architecture. It's about the landscape. It's about the community. It's about "the internal." I would love to collaborate with the health and sciences departments here at the school and create methods of interdisciplinary study. 

Another area I would like to continue building here is sustainability. Climate change. Again, we cannot address climate change and sustainability with only architecture. We need engineers and behavioral scientists in the mix. We can have all the best technology, but if people don't know how to use this technology and collaborate, it's not going to work. 

...when it comes to decolonizing curriculum, do we teach our students about the land we're building on? Does architectural academia talk about the land on which you are conducting these projects [...] Students come in and think that land is neutral, but it's not.

Lastly, I want to focus on historic preservation and Indigenous preservation. Bridging the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary histories of Southern California. For example, when it comes to decolonizing curriculum, do we teach our students about the land we're building on? Does architectural academia talk about the land on which you are conducting these projects? What was it like before? Who owned that land? What were the rituals and traditions? Do we teach that — we don't. Students come in and think that land is neutral, but it's not. Again this addressed the cultural aspect of incorporating inclusion and diversity within the curriculum and pedagogy. 

There's been a lot of academic turnover at architecture schools in the past few years. What do you think is missing in these leadership positions? What has helped you?

I've learned a lot during my experiences as a dean. I've been working on writing a book called "Leading While Brown," to explore this. I believe that to be able to lead effectively, you have to get in touch with your "inner person." You cannot separate your inner person from your leadership. It's that blending and intertwining of you and your identity that's what shapes you as a leader. Leadership is not linear. Leadership rhetoric can often be one note when it shouldn't be. Storytelling is what we need in this world right now. And if we talk about students, and if faculty could hear their stories and just listen, they would learn so much about who their students are and where they're coming from. And hopefully, from there, they can change the way that they teach and the substance of how they teach. 

Leadership is not linear. Leadership rhetoric can often be one note when it shouldn't be. 

There are administrative systems and structures that help things run, but it’s actually "the people" behind the scenes who run these systems. It's important to know where they are, know who they are, and the impact their work has. For example, as an administrator, we have assistants and staff whose voices aren't always heard. But they are the ones who help make things run. They have "the pulse." This is an aspect of my administration that I want to build, staff recognition. Doing this is very much a part of leadership. To understand all your players and knowing at their significance to making things run as well as making improvements and changes. 

The Future of Academic Leadership 

Several notes remained with me after my conversation with Dean Akers. Her tenacity and spirit to "do it all" might appear ambitious or "unattainable" to some. However, she is someone I wouldn't bet against. After learning more about her approaches and deep commitment to equity and reform within academia, Akers sets a tone that challenges educational systems for the better. 

For women whose academic and professional experiences are nothing but one note, this comment from Dean Akers eloquently paints the type of leader she aspires to be and encourages others to follow. "Students need to be in an environment where they feel they can be accepted. Identity and wellness, to me, are where things are intertwined. For me, this approach is what 'leading while Brown' means. It's not just about the administrative work but about the people and student-centeredness."

Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design already has a strong reputation and history within architecture academia and the AEC community. Having her at the helm, however, will only add to the groundbreaking work and influential alumni the school continues to develop.

Learn more about the College, its Department of Architecture, and previous editorial coverage published on Archinect here.