Virginia Tech Provost Mark C. McNamee announced the appointment of A. J. “Jack” Davis, as the interim dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Davis is currently the associate dean for academic affairs and the Reynolds Metals Endowed Professor of Architecture.

“The college is fortunate to have effective, stable leadership at the school and department level, and the continuity of leadership will be an asset as we move forward to implement the updated strategic plan,” said McNamee. “The college plays a key role in all aspects of the plan, including a leadership role in many of the research areas associated with "Social and Individual Transformation." A special planning challenge for the college this year will be the coordinated moves associated with the renovation projects in Cowgill and Burruss Halls. Davis is ideally positioned to provide continuing leadership for these projects and to build upon the outstanding record of progress and success created by Paul Knox during his service as dean.”

After leading the College of Architecture and Urban Studies through eight innovative years of growth and building on the quality of two schools and three programs within the college, Knox, a University Distinguished Professor, has elected to return his professional focus to teaching and research.

"I'm pleased to be able to continue to serve the college and Virginia Tech and to do so in this expanded capacity,” said Davis. “Paul has been an outstanding dean and his leadership has poised the college to do well through this transition."

Prior to his current appointment, Davis taught at the University of Florida and then later at the Boston Architectural Center. He practiced with Cambridge Seven and Associates in Cambridge, Mass., and in Basel, Switzerland for Suter and Suter. Since 1984 he has been principal and co-principal investigator on more than $2.5 million in research grants and a professor in the Professional Program in Architecture at Virginia Tech.

Davis has won design excellence awards from the Virginia Society American Institute of Architects and other affiliates and is a Fellow of the AIA. Davis’s teaching interests are in design, construction and environmentally sustainable issues.

A resident of Blacksburg, Davis received a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Master of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech.

He is slated to begin his duties as interim dean beginning on July 1 for a term of up to one year. The search for the permanent dean position will continue in August.

The College of Architecture and Urban Studies is one of the largest of its type in the nation. The college is composed of two schools and the departments of landscape architecture, building construction, and art and art history. The School of Architecture + Design includes programs in architecture, industrial design and interior design. The School of Public and International Affairs includes programs in urban affairs and planning, public administration and policy, and government and international affairs. The college enrolls more than 2,000 students offering 25 degrees taught by 160 faculty members.

Share this story