Wilson appointed Architecture dean for 3 years

Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson

UNL professor of landscape architecture Kim Wilson has been appointed to a three-year interim dean position at the UNL College of Architecture. Ellen Weissinger, senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, announced the appointment April 26. The appointment is pending Board of Regents approval.

A member of the UNL Architecture faculty since 2009, Wilson also has appointments in UNL Cooperative Extension, and is program director for both Landscape Architecture and Community and Regional Planning. She previously was at Purdue University where she taught community planning and design, and urban design studies, as well as landscape representation using technology.

While at Purdue, Wilson earned 13 teaching awards, conducted more than 17 service-learning projects, and recieved more than $1 million in internal and external funding to support both teaching and research initiatives.

Wilson earned her bachelor’s in landscape architecture from Penn State and her master’s in landscape architecture from University of Michigan. Prior to joining academia, Wilson worked for more than 25 years for nationally and internationally recognized firms including Sasaki Associates, JJR-Smith Group and Pollack Design Associates. Her experience focused on site design and planning for urban waterfronts, light rail transit corridors, large land holdings and parks, and open spaces. Wilson’s professional work has been nationally recognized in five design awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects. Her current research focuses on improving teaching and learning, experiential learning, service learning, cooperative learning on teams, and assessment of learning.

A national search brought two finalists to campus in April but ultimately did not result in an external hire.

“I selected professor Wilson after consultation with several key campus leaders and college constituents,” Weissinger said. “All have expressed great confidence in Kim’s ability to lead the college as it refines and enacts a strategic plan. I will add my personal confidence in Kim’s values, determination and leadership instincts. I am excited to work with her to support the college’s continued advancement.”

James O’Hanlon has been interim dean of Architecture since October 2011 when former dean Wayne Drummond returned to a faculty role in the college. Wilson will take over for O’Hanlon on June 1.

- Kelly Bartling, University Communications