More movement at the top of the academic landscape this week as Georgia Tech has announced University of Virginia urban and environmental planning professor Ellen M. Bassett as the next John Portman Dean’s Chair of the university’s College of Design.

A former Fulbright Scholar, Bassett has taught at Portland State University, UVA, and Michigan State. At UVA Bassett serves as the Associate Dean for Research in addition to her teaching role and is currently director of the school’s Real Estate Design and Development certificate program. 

Bassett holds degrees from the University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin-Madison, respectively, and spent over a decade working in East Africa as an urban and environmental planner in addition to working closely with the World Bank and U.S. Department of State in consultant roles. 

A university statement lauded Bassett for her “deep commitment to international engagement, scholarship, and teaching” as well as her “real-world impact on communities and community members [and] particularly vulnerable groups.”

“Professor Bassett’s contributions across the School of Architecture and the University of Virginia have been extraordinary,”  UVA dean Malo A. Hutson said in a statement. “In addition to being a highly respected faculty colleague engaging in impactful research, her active role in university-wide faculty governance demonstrates a rare but powerful asset – the combination of insightful strategic decision-making and spirited advocacy through inclusive leadership. While we will miss her greatly, we are so proud to have her join such an exceptional institution.”

Bassett’s tenure will begin on January 1st.