DREXEL GRADUATE INTERIORS PROGRAM

Aug 20

Drexel Graduate Interiors Program

I was director of Drexel’s Graduate Interior Architecture and Design program from 2017 to 2022, achieving accreditation in 2018, and shepherding the program through the pandemic. I stepped into the role after the rapid turnover of two previous directors and found the program to be in rocky shape, despite having a strong foundation and solid fundamentals. The number of students in the program was declining, there was a lack of record-keeping and data, and there were very few policies or procedures in place. I moved quickly to get up to speed, keeping up with day-to-day administration while starting to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities…

The role of program director is multifaceted, requiring a nimble responsiveness to issues from students, faculty, and upper administration, as well as representing the program to prospective students, alumni and industry professionals, and the general public. It is not a glamorous position and it requires long hours and near-constant attention. In taking on the role, I understood it as a chance to develop and hone my administrative skills, and understand the Interiors program and Drexel’s institutional infrastructure more deeply.

Highlights from my time as program director include:

Increased enrollment from a cohort average of approximately 15 students to 25 students
Added a post-professional graduate degree option
STEM designation for both graduate degrees
Created a program handbook and a set of policies to guide the program
Significantly increased the number of awards and competitions students won
Recognition in Metropolis Magazine, Dezeen, Architectural Digest, and other publications
Saw a tenfold increase in social media following, from 150 to over 1500
Created a digital archive of graduate thesis projects, and other scholarship in the program
Implementation of remote coursework during the Covid pandemic, and integration of remote tools into curriculum after return to campus
Addressed shortcomings in diversity, and embarked on efforts to decolonize the curriculum