Dear Rice colleagues,
I'm pleased to announce that Igor Marjanović has been reappointed as the William Ward Watkin Dean of the Rice School of Architecture, effective July 1. In his first term, Igor launched new academic and research initiatives, grew the faculty expanded opportunities for students, and opened award-winning, world-class facilities in support of the school's mission.
Igor has been praised by his colleagues and the community for his strategic, inclusive and scholarly leadership style. He worked with the faculty to create a new vision for the school that focuses on the education of architects as agile practitioners and public intellectuals who design for a changing world. The school received record numbers of student applications, increased scholarship opportunities, and placed renewed emphasis on academic success and well-being.
Faculty research has been one of Igor's greatest priorities. In 2023, he partnered with the Office of Research to create the Architecture Research Fellowships, which facilitate major scholarly projects. Under Igor's leadership, architecture faculty received strong support from the Scholarly and Creative Works Subvention Fund for numerous projects that advanced the role of design research in building thriving urban communities and generating more sustainable futures — key pillars of the Momentous strategic plan.
Since his arrival in 2021, Igor recruited more than 30% of the school’s tenured and tenure-track faculty and an entire new cohort of professors in the practice. He created new tenure-track lines for the first time in decades, bringing in faculty in all three areas of the curriculum: design, history and building science. He’s also recruited prize-winning visiting faculty, promoted staff, and created new roles for student and faculty support.
Igor empowered faculty to develop curriculum, including a new design studio sequence that responds to contemporary social and environmental challenges with great skill and care. The newly launched Research Platforms provide a capstone experience for all students, exploring new design methodologies in environmental transformation. This pedagogical reform culminated in an extremely successful review of the school’s professional programs by the National Architectural Accrediting Board visiting team, which praised the school for its strength of culture, vision and leadership.
In 2024, the school celebrated the opening of William T. Cannady Hall and renovation of its historic home, MD Anderson Hall, both of which won design awards and were featured in architectural magazines worldwide. Igor created a new curatorial program, Exhibitions at Rice, that uses the gallery platform of Cannady Hall to engage local and global audiences. The exhibitions have traveled internationally, contributing to a growing array of global initiatives. These include the launch of Sphere, an annual publication that looks at design research across the world, and the launch of the school’s new visual identity designed by Amsterdam graphic design studio Experimental Jetset. Newly created Global Workshops empower students to engage with faculty research even further, from Mexico to Singapore to Japan and beyond. Under Igor’s leadership, the Rice School of Architecture Paris celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 and hosted major alumni events and symposia.
Igor is a steady advocate for design excellence in campus development, particularly as a member of the Building and Grounds Committee. In Houston, he provides critical support for longstanding community programs like the Rice Civic Forum while creating new partnerships with organizations such as the Menil Collection. The American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter recognized Igor for his outstanding community service in 2024. A frequent speaker and contributor, Igor continues to publish, lecture and exhibit internationally.
The School of Architecture is a leader in alumni engagement and philanthropy, with a strong record of gifts and financial commitments. Igor recruited new members to the school’s William Ward Watkin Council, including parents and international affiliates. He launched the school’s alumni award and dean’s medal, which recognizes exceptional supporters for their generosity and leadership.
Please join me in congratulating Igor as he continues to lead our world-renowned Rice School of Architecture.
Warm regards,
Amy Dittmar, Howard R. Hughes Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs