PULLMAN, Wash. – Gregory Kessler, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, has been named as the interim director of the School of Design and Construction, effective May 15.
He replaces Phil Gruen, who is stepping down from the position he held for the past three years to return to his faculty position. Kessler will serve for one year while an external search for a permanent director takes place.
Kessler has been on the WSU faculty since 1987 and has taught design studio and seminars courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels. Most recently, he has actively collaborated with construction management colleagues at WSU to develop a senior capstone experience between architecture and CM students. This course is sponsored and integrated with Seattle industry professionals who travel to Pullman to provide symposiums on design and construction topics.
Kessler served as director of the School of Architecture and Construction Management, 2001-2012, and was inaugural director of the School of Design and Construction, 2012-2013. During that time, he led efforts to improve interdisciplinary collaboration in programs, including the development of an integrated education program.
Kessler served on the national board of directors of the American Institute of Architects from 2011-2013. Concurrently, he served as regional director of the Northwest and Pacific Region AIA. In this capacity, he initiated the national Intersections between the Academy and Practice program as well as a regional a leadership institute program for architecture students from the NWPR region schools of architecture.
He was named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2013 and was also recognized as a Richard Upjohn Fellow in the same year.
