CAPPA Welcomes New Associate and Assistant Deans
The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) is delighted to announce the appointment of three distinguished individuals to key leadership positions within the Dean's Office. These appointments reflect the college’s commitment to advancing excellence in education, research, and community engagement.
“I am excited to welcome our Assistant and Associate Deans to join the office of the Dean, says Ming-Han Li, Dean of CAPPA.” With their remarkable expertise and dedication to our college, their leadership will significantly enhance our efforts to innovate, engage our community, and achieve academic excellence.”
Dr. Karabi Bezboruah - Associate Dean for Faculty Success and Research
Starting August 2024, Dr. Karabi Bezboruah will be the Associate Dean for Faculty Success and Research. She will oversee P&T guidelines, faculty evaluations, faculty development and mentoring, policy and procedures related to faculty success and research, and Ph.D. programs. Her role also extends to managing research seed grants, supporting writing workshops, and assisting in community engagement and outreach relevant to faculty. Dr. Bezboruah will continue to serve as the Director of the two doctoral programs in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She is a Professor in the Department of Public Affairs and Planning and has been with the University of Texas at Arlington since 2009. Her research on public policies and organizational behavior has garnered over $2.8 million in grants from the NSF and philanthropic foundations. Dr. Bezboruah received multiple teaching awards and was recently inducted into the UTA Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Her extensive service on boards of professional associations further highlights her dedication to academic and community leadership.
Prof. Chuck MacBride - Assistant Dean for Student Success and Operations
Prof. Chuck MacBride will assume the role of Assistant Dean for Student Success and Operations. He will oversee policies related to students, manage admissions and enrollment, the advising office, information technology, and maintain facilities including studios, offices, classrooms, and labs. Prof. MacBride, who has been with UTA since 2019, focuses on passive house design and sustainability. Currently, he is designing two new single-family net-zero passive house projects that will be the first ever constructed and certified in North Texas. He has earned recognition for his teaching, research, and design work, including a Sustainability Leadership and Innovation award. Prof. MacBride's active architectural practice and commitment to advancing sustainable building practices align with his new role in enhancing student success and operational excellence within CAPPA. Prof. MacBride has previously taught at South Dakota State, Iowa State, and the University of Colorado, Denver, and holds degrees from Columbia University and Penn State.
Dr. Austin Allen - Assistant Dean for Community Engagement Effective January 2025, Dr. Austin Allen will be the first Assistant Dean for Community Engagement and will serve as Interim Program Director of the Landscape Architecture Program in Fall 2024. He will lead community engagement activities, special events, and study abroad programs, and oversee initiatives like the Arlington Urban Design Center, and the Geisel grants. Dr. Allen is an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Program. His prior roles include serving as interim Associate Dean for CAPPA, Associate Professor at Louisiana State University, Chair of Landscape Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver, and Associate Professor of Film/Communication at Cleveland State University. He has received prestigious awards, such as the Distinguished Alumni Award from UC Berkeley and the John Bracken Fellow at Penn State. Dr. Allen's work in urban environments spans the documentary film "Claiming Open Spaces." He has worked on disaster recovery in New Orleans and Haiti and is part of the landscape architectural firm Design Jones LLC with Dr. Diane Jones Allen. He has demonstrated his dedication to impactful community engagement through his work with the Melissa Pierce Project in Joppee. Dr. Allen is a member of the Board of the Landscape Architecture Foundation and on the Olmsted Council for the Olmsted Network. 