Edson G. Cabalfin, Ph.D., is an educator, architect, designer, researcher, and historian. He is the newly appointed Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and concurrently serving as Director of the Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Program and Professor of Practice in Design Thinking in the School of Architecture at Tulane University (New Orleans, LA). In 2017-2018, He was the Curator of the Philippine Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale 2018.
He received his Ph.D. in History of Architecture and Urban Development from Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) in 2012. Under a Fulbright Fellowship, he obtained his Master of Science in Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH) in 2003. Prior to coming to the U.S., he received his professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of the Philippines in 1996 and 2001, respectively. Before his appointment at Tulane University, Edson was a tenured Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Interior Design Program in the School of Architecture and Interior Design in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati where he taught from 2009 until 2020.
Edson’s research in the last two decades have focused on the interdisciplinary and transnational intersections of architecture history and theory, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies, postcolonial theory, Southeast Asian studies, spatial justice, public interest design, and heritage conservation. He wrote the book “What Kids Should Know About Filipino Architecture” (Adarna Books, 2015) and edited “The City Who Had Two Navels: Catalogue of the Philippine Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale 2018” (National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2018).
A licensed and registered architect in the Philippines, Edson also runs his multi-disciplinary human-centered design consultancy Talyer Kayumanggi/Brown Workshop, based in Cincinnati and Manila, with projects in architecture, interior design, set design, costume design, fashion design, exhibition design, graphic design, and design strategy in North America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East in the last 25 years.
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, US, Director of Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Program; Professor of Practice in Design Thinking
As Director and Professor of Practice in Design Thinking, leads the Social Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship (SISE) program and contributes to the development of Tulane School of Architecture's research agenda in the area of Design and Design Thinking. Coordinates the SISE program with the Tulane University's Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design thinking and plays a critical role in defining the school and university-wide research initiatives through collaboration with other academic units and pan-university centers and with organizations beyond Tulane.
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, US, PhD, Architecture
Major in History of Architecture and Urban Development, with minors in Southeast Asia Studies and Historic Preservation
