Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,  
 
At the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester, I find myself reflecting on a special quality that defines us, a rare combination of academic accomplishment and community spirit that has taken hold at The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture of The Cooper Union. As we venture into the winter break, I want to share a few highlights that illustrate this collective strength. 
 
This past summer marked the beginning of President Steven McLaughlin’s tenure. His leadership has brought an exciting sense of renewal to the institution. As an academic, he has fostered a close and collaborative relationship with the deans, emphasizing a student-centered culture that encourages us all to reinforce our community bonds. Most significantly, his commitment to a “return to free” remains a top priority, bringing us closer to realizing Peter Cooper’s founding vision of a center of learning open to all. 
 
We are also thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Dean, Michael Young. Following an exhaustive search process, we have proudly found a leader who resonates deeply with our mission. I want to extend my profound thanks to the search committee, led by Professor Diana Agrest and Assistant Professor Nora Akawi, for their tireless work in ensuring a fair and in-depth dialogue. I look forward to working with Michael during a transition period throughout the Spring 2026 semester. 
 
We are eager to welcome Irene Cheng to our full-time faculty this spring. This follows a productive summer where Mersiha Veledar was promoted to Acting Associate Dean. Other first-time faculty we welcome in the Spring include Brennan Buck, Yoona Hur, Earl Kwofie, Lila Lee-Morrison, Michael Maltzan, Jonathan Penvose, Adrian Phiffer, Shiori Sasaki, Hermona Tamrat, and Lindsey Wikstrom. In addition to these new colleagues, former Acting Dean and current Executive Director of the Van Alen Institute, Hayley Eber, will be coming back to join the Thesis faculty. Lastly, we wish professors Diana Agrest and Nora Akawi well-deserved and productive sabbaticals for the upcoming Spring term. 
 
Our pedagogy continues to extend beyond the classroom. This semester, our second-year students engaged in vital site visits to Boston, while Gerri Davis and Dionisio Ortega’s drawing class utilized the iconic Chrysler Building as a drawing laboratory with stunning results. Our public programs, coordinated by Visiting Professor II Ted Baab and Adjunct Associate Professor Kayla Montes de Oca, provided a vibrant intellectual forum through a series of lectures and book launches. In collaboration with the Student Lecture Series, which invites crucial topics and new voices into our halls, the combined lectures and events continue to evolve into a critical undertaking that brings our school into engagement with larger communities outside our walls. 
 
In the Third Floor Hallway Gallery, the Architecture Archive, under Director Steven Hillyer and Associate Director Chris Dierks, organized three standout exhibitions. The first, John Hejduk: Three Projects, included contributions from Joan Ockman and Stan Allen. The second exhibition, Archigram: Making a Facsimile, explored the influential folio of countercultural paper works in partnership with D.A.P. Finally, we concluded with Eladio Dieste: Material Tour de Force, which highlighted Dieste’s reinforced ceramics through extensive research and documentation by Assistant Professor Adjunct Julian Palacio. 
 
To my fellow faculty and staff, serving as your Acting Dean has been a tremendous privilege. I hope that in my time in this office, I’ve been able to live up to the brilliance and wit you all bring. 
 
To our students, I know I can't speak to everything you are navigating in today’s world, but I was once a student too, and I do recognize how intense this path is and how heavy it can feel. One of the reasons I returned to teaching after starting a family was to share this perspective — it changes with time. Eventually, the turbulence of these years yields to a sense of purpose. Stick with it. I know I speak for the entire faculty and staff when I say that you inspire us every day. 
 
I hope the winter break offers you the chance to unplug and reconnect with loved ones. I look forward to seeing you all in 2026. 
 
Warmly,

Benjamin Aranda 
Acting Dean & IDC Foundation Distinguished Professor 
The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture 
The Cooper Union