Tulane Architecture School Adds Eight New Faculty

The New Orleans institution has expanded its academic staff to support rising student numbers and new course offerings.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in People

Tulane Architecture School Adds Eight New Faculty

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The Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment has hired eight new faculty members for the 2026 academic year. This expansion is designed to accommodate the school's growth in both student population and available academic offerings.

Why it matters

The school initiated this hiring process to strengthen its instructional base as enrollment increases. The new appointments reflect a strategic effort to expand the scope of design, policy, and landscape research within the department.

The school has appointed eight new faculty members to its staff. Among the incoming group, Robert Hutchison joins the department with a professional background spanning 30 years in practice and teaching.

The players

Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment

This New Orleans-based institution provides advanced education in design, architecture, and environmental planning.

John Dwyer

He joins as Professor of Practice in Architecture and leads the Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design.

Robert Hutchison

He is a new Professor of Practice in Architecture who brings three decades of experience in the field.

Xixi Chen

She joins as an Architecture and Asian Studies Fellow with research focusing on public archives and housing policy.

Pavan Vadgama

He serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor and Fellow with research interests in care infrastructure and urban shed prototypes.

The details

The new faculty members include Malu Borja Lopez, John Dwyer, Robert Hutchison, Magdalena Valdevenito Belmar, Xixi Chen, Ira Concepcion, Julia Hedges, and Pavan Vadgama. They serve in various capacities ranging from professors of practice to research fellows, covering disciplines from Asian studies to Gulf landscape research.

The school began efforts to expand its faculty base in 2023.
Eight new faculty members officially joined the school for the 2026 academic year.

Market Landscape

The appointment of a new director for the Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design reinforces the school's commitment to community-engaged pedagogy. This strategic move positions the institution to better integrate local practice with expanding national and global architectural research.

Students at the school will benefit from a broader range of specialized courses and expanded research opportunities starting this academic year. These hires represent a direct investment in the quality of education and the professional guidance available to the current student body.

The takeaway

The expansion reflects a growing demand for specialized architectural expertise and community-based design education. Readers interested in academia can monitor how these faculty members incorporate their specific global research into local New Orleans curricula.