CAPPA's Year End Review and Message from the Dean

As we conclude another remarkable year at CAPPA, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you—our dedicated faculty and staff, committed students, and supportive friends and alumni. Your passion has propelled our college forward, reinforcing CAPPA's reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking institution.

After a full academic year in this position, I met with my colleagues to understand the pieces that make our college unique. I am thankful for their insight and appreciate their resilience during these past few years of leadership transitions. This academic year I was excited to welcome a new Dean’s Leadership team as we work together to align the goals for CAPPA with the five strategic themes in UTA 2030.

Enrollment in our undergraduate design programs is at an all-time high creating a challenge for CAPPA that have pushed us to think creatively and utilize the talented minds we currently have in our college. We are testing and updating the studio learning environment to further inter-studio, inter-disciplinary collaboration, with additional building enhancements still to come.

Our faculty have been recognized by respective national and international organizations putting CAPPA on the map. For instance, Dr. Diane Jones Allen was inducted to be a Fellow by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. Professor Julia Lindgren received a Design Build award by the ACSA. Dr. Deden Rukmana was re-appointed as the ACSP representative to the Global Planning Education Association Network. Our faculty have led innovative research initiatives tackling some of the most critical challenges facing cities and environments worldwide, equipping students with learning experiences and the skills to become leaders on the global stage. Notably, Associate Professor Brad Bell was awarded a Texas International Education Fund to develop a program examining the juxtaposition of historic and contemporary urban landscapes in central Germany.

We are eager to build more relationships and increase student engagement beyond the DFW metroplex. In our commitment to global collaboration, CAPPA established a partnership with National Taiwan University, facilitating student exchanges, joint faculty research projects and a dual master’s degree in landscape architecture. In Spring 2024, the School of Architecture held its first studio abroad at the University of Innsbruck for an entire semester. Additionally, CAPPA faculty are beginning to recruit for summer 2025 study abroad programs including Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, and Puerto Rico. The unique array of possible study abroad locations align with our goals for student enrichment.

For the first time this year, all CAPPA student organizations hosted and participated Park(ing) Day, as they transformed parking spaces into vibrant social areas raising awareness for greener streets and instilling a sense of tradition on our UTA campus. We are excited for this initiative to continue growing as our students make a statement on campus.

CAPPA is preparing to celebrate a remarkable milestone—our 10th anniversary. For a decade, we’ve brought together architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, planners, and public leaders committed to designing solutions. From visionary designs to policies that drive innovative solutions, CAPPA has been at the forefront of a decade of progress—equipping students to tackle global challenges and shaping communities for generations to come. Our alumni and faculty have transformed cities, created sustainable solutions, and led with purpose across industries. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to building on this legacy. This anniversary is a celebration of our shared mission and the extraordinary achievements of our community.  

Thank you for being part of our journey. Have a peaceful and safe holiday season. Happy New Year!