In October 2022, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee released details of its strategic 2030 Action Plan. This initiative outlined plans for several UWM schools and colleges to be realigned. During this process, the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP), which originally operated as an individual school, has since been combined with the Peck School of the Arts to create the newly formed College of the Arts and Architecture. Through this reorganization, the school has announced Mo Zell as the College's new Interim Dean. 

In July 2022, Archinect reported on Zell's appointment as SARUP's Interim Dean after she held the position as the school's first woman to be a Department Chair back in 2018. Zell's extensive background in academia and education at SARUP began during her time as an assistant professor back in 2008, in addition to previous teaching positions at Clemson University, North Carolina State University, and Northeastern University. Her dedication to architectural academia and leadership is matched by her working experience as a licensed architect, which provides many strengths in her new role as interim dean.

Zell's appointment brings "a wealth of experience and energy to the role,” shared UWM Interim Provost Scott Gronert. According to the UWM, uniting both schools combines the architecture, art and design, dance, film, music, theatre, and urban planning departments under one "umbrella." While both schools intend to "maintain their strong identities and continue to exist as their own units," Zell's leadership comes at a key moment of growth and restructuring the school.  

"This is a pivotal time for UWM, and I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, and our external partners to build a vibrant, interdisciplinary learning community poised to achieve new heights of success.," shared Zell. "I know firsthand that our two schools have overlapping shared interests, including strong ties to the Milwaukee region, academic programs driven largely by experiential learning, and a focus on creativity and design [...] With the new college, we can scale our collaborations to have even greater impact."

With other schools at UWM undergoing this transition of restructuring and growth, the realignment process is said to come into effect by July 1, 2023.