The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) has just named architect and academic Mo Zell as its 2023-2024 president.

In April of 2023, Zell was appointed interim dean of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s newly-established College of the Arts and Architecture comes to the position with an impressive list of past experiences both within the organization and in the world of architectural academia overall.

As a former ASCA regional director and fall conference co-chair, Zell has been able to expand on her on-campus efforts to spearhead a number of different initiatives, including the SARUP externship program, SUPERjury, Women in Design Milwaukee, and the SARUP Mobile Design Box. 

Zell was also the first female department chair, Associate Dean, and faculty member at UMW’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning and holds degrees in architecture from the University of Virginia of Yale University, respectively.

In a statement, Zell said: "Architectural education plays a vital role in shaping the built environment and influencing the world around us. I look forward to working with the dedicated members of ACSA to advance our collective mission, foster innovation, and ensure that future generations of architects are equipped with the skills and  knowledge needed to address the complex challenges of our time." According to a press release, the three priority items on her agenda are: 

1. Continuing to focus on how to respond to changes taking place within architectural education
2. Demonstrating the value of architecture to public audiences and how research and public engagement happening in schools of architecture impact our communities
3. Developing pathways and access to architectural education

Zell also said finally, “In these times, we need leadership that is willing to take a critical view of both the educational system and ACSA’s role within it.”