Ed Dorsa named School of Architecture + Design assistant director

Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design Director Scott Poole has appointed Ed Dorsa, associate professor of industrial design, to be the assistant director of the school as of August 2009.

Dorsa came to Virginia Tech 10 years ago from Arizona State University to teach in the then-recently formed industrial design program, having previously taught design at Virginia Commonwealth University and Iowa State University.

He is a past vice president of education for the Industrial Designers Society of America and presently serves as a commissioner on the National Association of Schools of Art and Design Board of Accreditation. Dorsa is the recipient of the School of Architecture + Design’s 2009 Excellence in Teaching Studio Award, the 2006 College of Architecture and Urban Studies Award for Excellence in Outreach, and the 2005-06 University Certificate of Teaching Excellence.

He says he looks forward to continuing and expanding the efforts already established by Kathryn Albright, who steps down as assistant director to focus on several other initiatives she is presently heading up for the school.

Dorsa received a master’s and a bachelor’s in industrial design from Ohio State University.

Read about Dorsa's teaching and research in this Spotlight on Innovation: Collaboration yields custom-built mobile laboratory bound for Africa