Editor's Note: Details of this article have been updated as of October 20, 2021

After five years as the Dean of Woodbury School of Architecture, architect and academic Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter announced this Monday morning that she will leave her position. Wahlroos-Ritter's appointment as Dean began on June 1, 2017. Since then, she has acted as a force in elevating the program and carry on with its mission to prepare students for careers in architecture. 

Along with her experience as a practicing architect and facades specialist, she has also taught at other architecture institutions like SCI-Arc, Yale, Cornell, and the Bartlett. Wahlroos-Ritter joined Woodbury's faculty in 2005. Before her appointment as Dean, she has held several teaching and administrative roles, including Undergraduate and Graduate Architecture Chair and Associate Dean. In addition, Wahlroos-Ritter is the creator and director of the WUHO gallery in Hollywood, has launched graduate programs in architecture and landscape architecture, initiated the school's digital fabrication lab, advocated for design justice, increased faculty diversity as well as provided more comprehensive academic and financial resources for students.

Below is a message Wahlroos-Ritter shared on her LinkedIn this morning announcing her leave.

"It’s time. After five years as Dean of Woodbury School of Architecture, and another 10+ years as chair and associate dean, I am excited to announce that I have decided to step down. My sabbatical starts today!

This was a dream job. I had the honor of working with so many accomplished architects, designers, educators and partners, serving our remarkable students and alumni and supporting them on their life journeys.

I look forward to launching new enterprises and reconnecting with friends. Can’t wait to see what adventures the future will bring!"

In July 2017, when Archinect spoke to Wahlroos-Ritter after she was first appointed Dean, she expressed much vigor and enthusiasm towards the future of the school's architecture department. I am curious to see who will take her place and if this year's announcement of academic leaders stepping down is a clue for the fate of architecture academia. While other details on her departure have yet to be shared her commitment and dedication to Woodbury's architecture program will not be forgotten. 

On Tuesday, October 19, Woodbury School of Architecture announced Heather Flood as appointed Interim Dean. The school shares that her appointment is effective immediately.

The current state of architecture academia has been flipped on its head these past few years. The pandemic and uprise in the socially/politically charged events of 2020 have outlined "holes" and areas for much-needed reform within architecture pedagogy and professional practice. Several academic Deans and school leaders have announced their leave since 2020. As educational reform and challenges in pedagogy continue to develop, what new role will academic leaders have? How should candidates for these open leadership positions be vetted? While there are still unknowns related to this discussion, Archinect will continue to watch, report, and provide discourse on the future of architectural academia.