Erkin 脰zay Appointed Chair of UB鈥檚 Department of Architecture
The UB School of Architecture and Planning is pleased to announce that Erkin 脰zay has been named chair of the Department of Architecture. He succeeds Korydon Smith, who has served in the role since 2018.
A UB faculty member since 2014, 脰zay has held various roles at the School, including associate professor, director of undergraduate studies, and, for the last two years, associate dean for academic affairs.
鈥淚 am enthusiastic about Professor 脰zay鈥檚 stewardship of the department in the coming years,鈥� Smith shared. 鈥淗is leadership as both director of undergraduate studies and associate dean for academic affairs has been exemplary, and his community-based research on institutions will be invaluable to the diverse stakeholders in the department.鈥�
脰zay is also a registered architect, award-winning educator, and author of several publications, most recently聽Urban Renewal and School Reform in Baltimore: Rethinking the 21st聽Century Public Schools聽(Routledge, 2021). His research and teaching have been widely recognized by the professional community and architectural academy. A founding member of the Urban Design Research Group within UB鈥檚 Department of Architecture, his teaching focuses on contemporary challenges of housing and urban revitalization in weak market cities, and he seeks to expose his students to the multifaceted nature of urban practices beyond traditional and prescriptive models.
Prior to joining UB’s School of Architecture and Planning, 脰zay taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), University of Toronto, and Northeastern University. He was the Aga Khan Fellow at the Harvard GSD from 2011-2013.
In his new role at UB, 脰zay looks forward to supporting the Department鈥檚 faculty and students and advancing its upward trajectory. 鈥淎 lot of positive changes are happening,鈥� he shared. 鈥淥ur student population is growing, we have an excellent dean who wants to do exciting things, and we鈥檙e rethinking the notion of design and architecture and how they impact our world. There鈥檚 an incredible energy that comes with that.鈥�
As a long-time member of the School鈥檚 community, 脰zay is deeply attuned to both the strengths and the needs of the Department, and he recognizes that its supportive and caring culture is one of its greatest assets 鈥� one that he鈥檚 committed to upholding. 鈥淲e have a way of making things better and navigating challenges collectively that I鈥檓 super inspired by. No one is on an island here, and we have dealt with many challenges in the past. I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a problem that we cannot solve because of our tight-knit community and culture of care.鈥�
脰zay will assume the role of chair starting in July 2025.