Heather Woofter has been appointed dean of the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture (UTSOA) following a national search to replace Michelle Addington following her successful tenure, which began in July of 2017.

She is currently the Director of the College of Architecture and the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design at Washington University in St. Louis's Sam Fox School of Design and will begin her new role at UTSOA effective August 15. Woofter comes to the position with prior academic experience at her undergraduate alma mater Virginia Tech and other universities, where she was a visiting professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and Konkuk University in South Korea.

UT Austin's President Jay Hartzell said: "Heather’s impressive contributions in academia and architectural practice strongly align with our pursuit of building partnerships and preparing our students to positively impact the world around us. Her accomplishments speak to our continued commitment to attract the greatest talent nationally and from around the world.”

“It is an honor to join the UT Austin community and the distinguished faculty, students and staff in the School of Architecture,” she said in a statement provided by the university. “I look forward to future collaborations across campus and advancing our community vision in research and the design practices. UT Austin is unique because of its breadth of exceptional allied disciplines within the School of Architecture, expanding the cultural discourse while tackling pressing issues of the contemporary world.”

In 2017, Woofter sat down with Archinect to discuss her pedagogical goals when her tenure began in St. Louis. In terms of practice, her work as the co-design principle of Axi:Ome has helped lead to major commissions around the city and region. She has also previously worked in the London offices of Marks Barfield, and for U.S.-based firms Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Robert Luchetti Associates. 

“Heather is a successful, strategic and collaborative leader who brings a wealth of experience — in both academia and architecture practice — to our campus and community,” executive vice president and provost Sharon L. Wood said finally. “Beyond her role as an academic leader, Heather’s contributions to the city of St. Louis have been highly impactful, and I look forward to working with her as she strengthens partnerships in Austin and advances the School of Architecture’s position among the nation’s very best.”

Woofter holds a B.Arch degree from Virginia Tech and graduated from Harvard GSD with a Master of Architecture degree in 1998.