The University of Southern California (USC) today announced the appointment of renowned architect and educator Brett Steele as its new dean for the School of Architecture.

Steele will be stepping in to replace interim dean Willow Bay, who was appointed back in July 2022, following the quiet departure of former architecture dean Milton Curry.

Steele is no stranger to leading prominent schools of architecture. Prior to his new future position at USC, he served as UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture dean since 2017. Before his time working in Los Angeles, he held pivotal leadership positions at the Architectural Association (AA), serving as a chief executive and Director since 2005. Prior to that, he created and led the AA Design Research Lab, the school's first accredited Master of Architecture program, for eight years.

According to USC President Carol Folt, "Brett Steele’s collaborative leadership is a perfect fit for our School of Architecture. One of the things that impressed me most when I met him is that throughout his career, he has inspired creative and inclusive ways of thinking that bring architects closer to their communities — and that keep innovative design and research top of mind."

Steele shared his excitement with USC about the new role as dean, stating, "The interdisciplinarity of the work within the different programs, faculty, and curriculums I’ve been involved with in my career is something I very much look forward to building upon in coming to USC, which, as a school of architecture, is remarkable for the breadth and depth of its portfolio of creative activities and professional interests [...] One of the things I learned early on about USC is that the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration that is so important to creative fields and professions of all kinds is built into the culture of the campus."

"The key takeaway for me has been the urgent need we in schools should always be aware of and address, which is the ways in which architecture schools need to continue to adapt and evolve with the world around them," he added.

Beyond his extensive experience as a teacher and academic leader, Steele is an accomplished architect, writer, and editor who will bring an enormous amount of knowledge and influence to the position. "One of my great hopes at USC is for us to build upon this amazing legacy of architecture that’s identified with this great school but also continue to find ways in which USC plays a vital role in the building of those audiences surrounding architecture and landscape and conservation, and the making of the kind of cities which are genuinely possible here in ways in which it just isn’t in so many different schools and cities around the world."

Steele will begin his role as dean on February 1, 2024. Current interim Dean Willow Bay will continue leading the school until the end of January 2024.