Former AIA President Peter Exley has been announced as the new Dean of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Exley, who is currently an adjunct professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, will replace interim Head of School Bassam Bjeirmi, beginning in May. He comes to the position with numerous academic awards, including the 2002 Contribution to Art Education Award from the Illinois Alliance for Art Education; the 2020 Distinguished Service Award from the National Art Education Association; and the Nathan Clifford Ricker award for Teaching in Excellence, which he won in 2017.

“Robert Gordon University has a strong strategic plan and a vision to ensure that as a university community, we are aligned with the critical issues of our time,” Exley told Archinect. “For me, this is an exciting transition from my practice, and time as a leader in the AIA. The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment is ideally located to address issues of climate crisis and decarbonization — Aberdeen has been an epicenter of the UK’s fossil fuel industry.”

“Through this experience, plus local and global connectivity, the School can lead in research and by the example of graduates well equipped to catalyze equity and emphasize action on climate emergency,” he continued. “Acting to build resilience at every scale and for every community was the message of the AIA delegation I led at COP26 in Glasgow. It’s a natural next step to put this into practice alongside the work in progress at RGU.”

“We are delighted to be appointing Professor Exley as Dean for The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment,” RGU Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Olivier said finally. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, not only in education but also as founder of an internationally recognized practice of award-winning architecture and through his role as President of the American Institute of Architects. The Scott Sutherland School [...] has a strong social ethos that underpins all its teaching and research."

He continued: “We work closely with industry to ensure our courses are up to date and to equip our students with relevant skills to design and build sustainable and well-considered structures and spaces that reflect society's aspirations. Professor Exley has a demonstrable track-record, and I am confident that under his leadership, the Scott Sutherland School can continue to build on its success as one of the country’s leading architectural schools.” 

More information about the school's academic programs can be found here.