It was announced to the faculty and students today that our new dean is going to be Michael Speaks. I'm pretty excited to see what he can bring to our program as far as a fresh perspective and entrepreneurial endeavors. — archinect.com
Archinect member and current Syracuse student, Nathan Geller, shared the news that was distributed to the Syracuse community earlier today. Michael Speaks will be leaving his position of Dean at the University of Kentucky College of Design to take on the position of Dean of the School of Architecture at Syracuse University.
Official release...
Michael A. Speaks Named Dean of School of Architecture
Syracuse University Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric F. Spina today announced the appointment of Michael A. Speaks to the position of dean of the School of Architecture. Speaks is the current dean of the College of Design at the University of Kentucky, where he is also a professor of architecture. The appointment concludes a national search to replace former Dean Mark Robbins, who stepped down last spring. Speaks will assume his position on July 1.
The former director of the graduate program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, Speaks has taught in the graphic design department at the Yale School of Art, and in the architecture schools at Harvard University, Columbia University, The University of Michigan, UCLA, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., and the Berlage Institute and TU Delft, in the Netherlands. Speaks has published and lectured internationally on contemporary art, architecture, urban design and scenario planning. His essays and exhibitions in the 1990s were among the first to introduce a new generation of Dutch architects and planners to a broader audience in North America.
“I am thrilled to join the Syracuse University School of Architecture, among the most highly regarded programs in the U.S. and, indeed, in the world,” Speaks says. “It is a distinct honor to follow those esteemed deans and school leaders who came before me and who put the school on such a strong foundation. Working with faculty, staff and students, and exploring new opportunities on the horizon, I am confident that together we will build upon and enhance the reputation and standing of this truly great school of architecture.”
SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor indicates that Speaks is perfectly positioned to build upon the School of Architecture’s tremendous foundation. “As a scholar and leader in design education, Michael emphasizes innovative approaches and interdisciplinary connections focused on real-world problem solving, particularly on addressing the challenges of older industrial cities—emphases that align perfectly with SU’s strengths. We’re pleased to have been able to attract him here and we know he’ll hit the ground running.”
Speaks has played an important role in recent debates about city branding and alternative models of city planning, authoring a number of essays and advisory studies, as well as overseeing scenario studies commissioned by city and regional governments in the U.S. and in Europe. Speaks has been at the center of debates about the role innovation and prototyping play in design and has written a series of influential essays that argue for the importance of what he calls “design intelligence,” or the various forms of design knowledge generated during design but which are often overlooked in favor of “the design.”
Such intelligence, Speaks argues, offers an important area for design research, especially in an increasingly knowledge-based economy.
“The search committee and I are deeply impressed with Michael’s scholarship and leadership, as well as his vision for integrating multiple perspectives in the design process,” says Spina. “I believe that his demonstrated record of entrepreneurial leadership make him the ideal candidate to work with the faculty and staff to advance the school in a highly dynamic time both for higher education and the architecture profession. I look forward to the connections that will continue to grow with other disciplines across SU’s schools and colleges, as well as with external partners from the local to the global.”
Speaks was founding editor of the cultural journal Polygraph, and former senior editor at Any in New York, where he also edited the book series, “Writing Architecture,” published by MIT Press. In addition, he served for many years on the editorial advisory board of a+u in Japan, and as a contributing editor for Architectural Record.
Originally from Mississippi, Speaks earned his B.A. from the University of Mississippi and his Ph.D. from Duke University.
10 Comments
All my former students who are now at CoD are confirming that they've been told Speaks is leaving. Sad for Kentuckiana.
Very sad indeed. I wonder how many incoming grad students are going to reassess their decision to attend UK/CoD based on this decision? I imagine some people will balk.
Congratulations Michael. This is what happens when Kentucky doesn't make the tourney!
i wish there was a "thumbs up" to click above vado's comment.
Speaks put in a 5 year term at UK, which is an entirely appropriate tenure for a dean (though I'm sure many would have been happy to keep him for another 5 years). In any case, UK benefited, and now Syracuse will too, and in the end, spreading the Speaks around (in concentrated doses) seems like a good thing for design education overall.
Michael would be an ideal next director for SCI Arc.
A brilliant Dean that I was fortunate enough to have throughout the duration of my undergraduate career at the College of Design. He opened doors on so many levels and I can only say thanks and the best of luck in NY.
I know, Aaron. It's best to spread the wealth, right?
I also wish I could thumbs up vado's comment.
Having gone to Syracuse, I looked Mr. Speaks up to see what he would bring. He is "talking in the lines of Projective Theory about Design Intelligence" what ever that is, so I looked it up. One of the quotes was "Theory is not just irrelevant, but continues to be an impediment to innovation." At first I was excited to hear him push back on the architspeak that passes for architecture at most schools, but again, you don't get to play with-in the system without kowtowing a bit. "Significantly, prototyping also creates a shared design space that enhances collaboration and thus the introduction of variables that might not otherwise have been considered, leading to further innovation." Yikes! More innovation for the sake of innovating, forgetting that most clients want quality, not innovation. Just when the human was poised to make a comeback against theorists, we get "another vanquard (offering) it's very tempting services, and we are all treated again to a new version of a new truth that will lead us down another path. It has happened before"
As a former student of Michael's, I want to send a sincere, public congratulations to him and hope that the deep impression he made on our graduate cohort at SCI-Arc, circa mid-2000s, continues to affect change in our design communities. Both Kentucky and Syracuse have and will benefit greatly from his leadership and provocations--entrepreneurial, architectural, post-theoretical, or otherwise. Thank you, Michael, for empowering me to think for myself, while aligning to the deeper trajectories within design and education. My former, current, and future students and clients thank you, also. Cheers!
NOTE: I also agree with Orhan (above)... in due time, my friend.
He most not have heard that UIC is looking for a new Dean...
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