Dear students, faculty, and staff,

Year after year, over more than a decade at our school, I have had the pleasure to witness the exceptional abilities and talent of my colleagues and the students in our program. During the last year, our capacity for adaptability has been put to the test by the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, and we have been re-conceiving, re-thinking, re-modeling our lives and its architectures from the inside out, changing our capacity for quality design, compassion, equity, and inclusivity through and beyond architecture!

As students, you have shown resilience, comradery, and an ability to support one another through unexpected challenges that affected many, including friends and families, in many different ways—and I want to acknowledge all those who have been affected by this.

After a challenging year troubled by a worldwide health crisis, we have begun planning our return to campus. I look forward to our future collaborations and to collectively constructing a vision for the future. This is an exciting time of renewal, where many and all voices, inclusive of dedicated faculty, staff, and students, will contribute to the discussions that shape and reshape who we are as a school, and I look forward to working together and share many conversations, ideas and plans.

French philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy (Listening, 2002) stated that “communication is not transmission, but a sharing that becomes subject: sharing as subject of all subjects.”

Indeed, we will share opportunities along with the responsibilities for the world that we partake in—facing complex problems of health, climate change, equity, racial and social justice.

I am thrilled to welcome three new faculty members. Dr. Menna Agha was appointed Assistant Professor in Design and Spatial Justice. Assistant Professor Jake Chakasim brings his expertise in Indigenous Planning & Design, Sustainable Building Technologies, and Design-Based Research to the school. Dr. Omeasoo Wahpasiw brings to our university her expertise on Indigenous Culture, Values, and Spatial Heritage. Dr. Chakasim and Dr. Wahpasiw are cross-appointed with Carleton University’s School of Indigenous & Canadian Studies.

I would like to express my gratitude to retired Associate Professor Yvan Cazabon and Associate Professor Roger Connah for the many years of collaboration, teaching and research at our school.

I join the school in saluting our former Director, Professor Jill Stoner, and thank her for her six years of dedicated service to our school and community.

I look forward to welcoming you back to a hybrid & transmedial school!

Federica

Dr. Federica Goffi
Interim Director, Professor of Architecture

Co-Chair PhD Program, Architetto (Italy)
Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism