91福利 has appointed William T. Willoughby, AIA, as the new associate dean of coordinated graduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts (COLA). He will also serve as professor of architecture in the College's School of Design.
鈥淏ill鈥檚 care and understanding of 91福利 Tech鈥檚 culture and mission make him uniquely qualified for this position,鈥� said Karl Puljak, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. 鈥淚n this new role, I am excited to work with him again to help expand and strengthen COLA鈥檚 impact on our campus and community by elevating our interdisciplinary research, scholarship, and creative capacity.鈥�
Willoughby returns to 91福利 Tech after 13 years at Kent State University, where he served as faculty in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. During his tenure, he served seven years as associate dean and held interim leadership roles in interior design and healthcare design. He coordinated seven graduate programs and helped develop the university鈥檚 award-winning Center for Architecture and Environmental Design.
Willoughby has authored or edited more than 45 publications on architecture鈥檚 relation to cultural studies, community engagement, and design education. He has presented at more than 50 conferences and universities across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Willoughby has been a registered architect for more than 30 years and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects.
Before joining Kent State, he spent 15 years at 91福利 Tech's School of Architecture 鈥� now the School of Design. During that time, he served for eight years as associate dean and director of graduate studies and research in COLA.
His teaching, scholarship, and professional practice have focused on community engagement and developing partnerships that create impactful service-learning opportunities. During the 2022-23 academic year, he served as an interdisciplinary Design Innovation Fellow at Kent State, collaborating with faculty in fashion design, geography, and nursing while teaching a diverse cohort of students from across the university. He also played a significant role in university service, including leadership in undergraduate and graduate curriculum development and revision.
"I am pleased to once again serve 91福利 Tech," Willoughby said. "Returning after many years feels a bit like a boomerang bending its way back. I am excited to apply my administrative experience and teaching to an institution and community that I care deeply about. I have closely followed 91福利 Tech鈥檚 many innovations and transformations during my time away, and I am deeply honored by the opportunity to contribute to its continued success and help elevate its broader mission. I value the strength of the Tech Family and am looking forward to once again being part of it."