Brenda Scheer will soon take over as the dean of the Graduate School of Architecture.
Scheer is currently a professor of architecture at the University of Cincinnati, where she won numerous teaching awards. Scheer is also the president and principle architect of the private firm Scheer and Scheer, and works with her husband.
Scheer’s work focuses on urban planning and urban morphology, which studies the way economic and cultural forces change neighborhoods over time.
Scheer’s urban background was one of the major elements the committee looked at in choosing her as dean of the school.
“Her background is a lot in urban planning, we thought that was something we could definitely use,” said Derick Bingman, who was on the search committee. “[Scheer] really brought a strong background for that direction that we’ve been missing.”
According to Bingman, urban planning will become very important as the Wasatch Front continues to grow.
Scheer’s strong academic and professional experience also impressed the committee.
“She is committed to teaching and seems to be very interested in students and scholarship and she has been a practicing architect in the real world,” said David Pershing, senior vice president for academic affairs.
Scheer taught at the University of Cincinnati for more than 10 years, and did a number of community-based studies and outreach programs while there.
Scheer also received the prestigious Loeb fellowship at Harvard University.
“I believe, overall, she was the obvious choice,” Bingman said. “There were a lot of really good candidates.”
“She brought a strong professional background, she is bright and energetic,” said Bill Miller, current dean of the Graduate School of Architecture. “She has management skills that seem to blend with where we are.”
Bingman mentioned Scheer’s sense of humor as a reason the committee selected her. Pershing also noted how friendly and outgoing Scheer is.
The dean search committee chose Scheer from more than 20 applicants. The committee narrowed the group to eight applicants and interviewed them by telephone. They then selected four candidates to visit the U in January so the members could add a human face to the candidates’ resumes, according to Peggy McDonough, who is an auxiliary faculty member on the dean search committee.
Each candidate met with faculty and staff members, gave a public lecture to students and local architects and met with the dean search committee while visiting.
During Scheer’s lecture, she discussed urban neighborhoods and how cities change over time. Scheer hopes to incorporate these ideas into her work as dean of the school.
She also discussed the importance of values and a balanced education in architecture.
“People cannot operate unconscious of their values,” Scheer said in her speech. “Architecture requires a broad knowledge base, politics, laws, real-estate development and shifts in local economics.”
Miller is stepping down from his position so he can return to research. He also believes the school needs a new direction and vision.
“I think the school is really excited about it,” Miller said. “This is an exciting dean search for us.”