About the Weitzman School of Design

The University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design prepares students to address complex sociocultural and environmental issues through thoughtful inquiry, creative expression, and innovation. As a diverse community of scholars and practitioners, we are committed to advancing the public good–both locally and globally–through art, design, planning, and preservation. 

We are proud of our exceptional legacy of advancing design education, scholarship and practice, and improving the quality of everyday life through design. We recognize that we should measure our success not just by what we do but by how we approach our work. The values and guiding principles below reflect our commitment to creating a culture of trust, integrity, and fairness.

Respect
We treat one other with respect regardless of background or position.

Inclusion
We strive to create an inclusive environment, embracing difference and welcoming diverse perspectives.

Belonging 
We believe that everyone in our community should feel welcome, valued, and unafraid to ask questions or raise concerns.

Humility
We recognize that listening to and learning from others is critical to our success. We acknowledge our mistakes, and we understand that they are essential to our growth.

Support
We seek to foster a supportive community, celebrating our successes and learning from our mistakes.

Courage
We encourage risk taking and exploring beyond established boundaries in pursuit of excellence.

Collegiality
We believe in teamwork, recognizing that differences of opinion are constructive and should be addressed collegially and respectfully.

Transparency
We are committed to frequent, open, and transparent communication.

Justice 
We recognize that some members of our community may experience unfair barriers or advantages and we make changes to ensure that everyone has access to equal opportunities.

Figures for Academic Year 2024 - 2025

*Master of Architecture, Master in Environmental Building Design, Master of Science in Design, Master of City Planning, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Science in Historic Preservation, Master of Urban Spatial Analytics, Doctor of Philosophy in City and Regional Planning.

**Domestic students only; includes students who self-identified as Asian or Pacific Islander, Black (Non-Hispanic), Hispanic, or Multiple Ethnicity.

Dean

Frederick “Fritz” Steiner (MRP’77, MA’86, PhD’86) is Dean and Paley Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Dean Steiner has a long and distinguished track record as a scholar, teacher and administrator. Before returning to Penn in 2017, he served for 15 years as dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds two master’s degrees and a doctoral degree, in city and regional planning, from Penn, and he has also been a research scholar at the Penn Institute for Urban Research since 2013. Penn President Amy Gutmann announced his appointment on February 25, 2016. As announced by President Gutmann on October 18, 2021, Dean Steiner’s appointment was extended through June of 2025.
 

Department Chairs

Sharon Hayes, Professor and Chair, Department of Fine Arts
Rossana Hu, Miller Professor and Chair, Department of Architecture
Frank G. Matero, Gonick Family Professor and Chair, Department of Historic Preservation
Matt Neff, Director, Undergraduate Fine Arts & Design
Rashida Ng, Presidential Associate Professor of Architecture and Chair, Undergraduate Architecture
Megan Ryerson, Professor and Chair, Department of City & Regional Planning; UPS Chair of Transportation
Catherine Seavitt, Meyerson Professor and Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture
 

Board of Advisors

Members of our Board of Advisors provide leadership, direction, and support for the future of the Weitzman School.

Matthew H. Nord, W'01, Chair
Danielle Anderman, C'94
Victoria Blau Orlin, MArch'95
Richard Davies, C'83
Loren Easton, C'01, WG'07
Timur Galen, MArch'84, MSE'84
Mark R. Goldstein, C'83, W'83
Dawn Gonick, MSHP'94
Eric N. Gribetz, W'95
Vicki Panzier Gross, W'87
Michael Halpern, W'83
Mason Haupt, W'77
Lee Huang, W'95, MPA'06
Mireya Kam, C'93, W'93
David Kerko, ENG'96, W'96
Scott M. Kleinman, C’94, W’94
Stephanie LaNasa, W'00
Ben Lin, W'05
Richard Linhart, W’83
Michael G. Manasse, W90, L96
Kevin Penn, W'83
Bonnie Stone Sellers, CW’73
David R. Smith, MArch'90
Patricia Pickman Udell, C’78
Stuart Weitzman, W'63
Barbara Wilks, MLA'93

Administrative Staff

Chris Cataldo, Director of Finance and Administration
Jessica DeJesus, Director of the Research Support Center
Jamie Eidlin, Director of Admissions
Leslie Hurtig, Vice Dean for Administration
Alex Jarymovych, Director of IT Services
Michael Grant, Senior Director of Communications
Kali Meeks, Director for Professional Development and Leadership
Emily McCully, Registrar
Kayla Richards, Director of Student Services
Christopher Simmons, Director of Student Engagement and Community Building at Weitzman
Jeff Snyder, Assistant Dean of Development and Alumni Relations
Karyn Tufarolo, Associate Director for Faculty Affairs
Karl Wellman, Senior Director of Operations and Planning & Design and Construction

Generations of designers, planners, preservationists, and artists have chosen to pursue their passion at Penn. Here are some of the factors in their decision:

Influence

Generations of Weitzman graduates have shaped their profession through their practice and scholarship, and the School continues to train the future leaders of design’s many fields.

Philadelphia

One of the most affordable cities of its size in the Northeast, Philadelphia is replete with history, architectural and landscape landmarks, and diverse neighborhoods. Its arts and music scene rivals that of Austin, Montreal, and Seattle. 

Interdisciplinary Study

The Weitzman School is unique among U.S. graduate institutions in bringing together architecture, landscape architecture, city and regional planning, historic preservation, and the fine arts; students are encouraged to take classes across disciplines.

Making a Difference

Weitzman’s architecture department was originally established in 1890 with the express purpose of improving the built environment for Philadelphians. Still at the heart of Weitzman's curriculum are community-based, site-specific studios, and students can receive funding and guidance for social impact projects through PennPraxis. 

A School within a University

Weitzman students enjoy access to all 12 Schools at the University, including Wharton, Engineering, and Social Policy. Dual degree offerings and certificates add further breadth to study at the Weitzman School.

Meaningful Research

Weitzman faculty and students work on socially relevant initiatives led by PennPraxis, the Center for Environmental Building Design, the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites (CPCRS), the Center for Public Art & Space (CPAS), the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, the Penn Institute for Urban Research (IUR), The Ian L. McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology, and the Center for Archectural Conservation (CAC).

Pragmatism

The Weitzman School retains the commitment of inventor Benjamin Franklin, Penn’s first president and longtime trustee, to applied research. Art and design are understood as acting in dialogue with society for the betterment of humanity.

Community

Relationships are at the heart of the Weitzman experience, and they’re built outside the studio as well as in. Along with Happy Hour and the annual Beaux Arts Ball, programs initiated by Student Affairs, Student Council and student groups like Penn Women in Architecture help form bonds for a lifetime.

In February of 2019, the University of Pennsylvania named its School of Design in honor of award-winning designer and footwear icon Stuart Weitzman, Wharton Class of 1963, in recognition of both his ongoing philanthropic support of the University and his active engagement in its academic activities. The new name, the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, reflects Weitzman’s enduring influence in the world of design and his extraordinary support of the School. Read more about Stuart Weitzman in the official announcement.

At the Weitzman School, we educate the designers, the planners, and the artists of the future. Everything we do, from research to education to practice, is infused with a focus on sustainability, equity, and environmental justice. 

• Our faculty are leading the way in sustainability-focused research, from sustainable materials to thermal innovations to water management.
• ​Our students across departments are immersed in courses and studio projects at the intersection of climate and environmental justice.
• Our daily operations are focused on sustainability through energy conservation and materials.

Learn more about how our climate commitment informs Research Leadership; Academic Leadership; and Operations and Facilities Leadership.