Dear Members of the Yale School of Architecture Community,
We are pleased to announce that the Yale Corporation has approved the reappointment of Deborah Berke, J.M. Hoppin Professor of Architecture, as the Edward P. Bass Dean of the Yale School of Architecture for a third term of five years, effective July 1, 2026. This renewal recognizes Dean Berke’s success in advancing the school’s impact on students, the Yale and New Haven community, and the future of the architecture profession.
Over the past decade, Dean Berke has deeply influenced the direction of architectural education at Yale and demonstrated a particular commitment to expanding the School of Architecture’s connections to Yale College and the other graduate and professional schools. In 2019, the School of Architecture launched an undergraduate major in urban studies, attracting large enrollments in introductory classes and a strong cadre of majors. The program has connected undergraduates with students in the school’s master of architecture program and has created new pathways for graduate students to incorporate urban studies into their education.
In addition to deepening ties across Yale, Dean Berke has also strengthened the school’s connection to New Haven. Her support for signature programs such as the Jim Vlock First Year Building Project and the Yale Urban Design Workshop has increased student and faculty engagement with the city through the construction of affordable housing and historic preservation efforts. Recent projects have given students opportunities to develop skills in the field, build relationships with local non-profit clients, and address issues such as urban infill and the need for climate-resilient buildings.
Under Dean Berke’s leadership, the School of Architecture has extended its research and teaching to include the impact of architectural practice on the planet. In 2019, the school became home to the Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture, a faculty-led initiative connecting researchers from across the university to develop design methods that prioritize a sustainable built environment. The center now offers a doctoral research track that emphasizes interdisciplinary science and prepares students to engage with living ecosystems. In addition to seminars and studios focused on sustainable design, all School of Architecture courses integrate this topic into their discussions.
Dean Berke’s commitment to advancing the School of Architecture’s mission is evident in the robust support she has secured for students, faculty, and programs. Throughout her tenure, she has raised $135 million, resulting in a tripling of the school’s financial aid, progress toward meeting the demonstrated tuition needs of all students, and key endowment support for faculty, research, and the school’s hallmark centers and programs. New faculty positions in architectural sciences, design, urban studies, landscape, and history and theory have greatly expanded the school’s leadership in architectural education.
Notably, Dean Berke has continued the long tradition of the deanship by simultaneously leading an internationally renowned architectural practice. Embodying the school’s mission to cultivate leaders who shape the future through design, she has been recognized with the 2022 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education and the 2025 AIA Gold Medal—the highest honors in the United States for architectural education and professional practice, respectively.
During the reappointment review process, we heard effusive praise and deep appreciation for Dean Berke’s exceptional leadership from across the School of Architecture community. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni commented on her calm, steady presence during challenging times as well as her ongoing dedication to visionary and strategic thinking. Many of you remarked on the highly collaborative and inclusive environment that Dean Berke has created and praised her commitment to the highest academic standards for architectural education and scholarship.
We are grateful to Dean Berke for her dedication to the School of Architecture’s mission and her impressive record of accomplishments. Please join us in congratulating her on her reappointment and thanking her for her work to strengthen the school and Yale.
Sincerely,
Maurie McInnis
President
Professor of the History of Art
Scott Strobel
Provost
Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry