Cummings School of Architecture Community

The Cummings School of Architecture is a community composed of students, faculty, industry experts and life-long learners. Discover more about the people who make up our school.

Faculty & Staff

The Cummings School of Architecture boasts an esteemed faculty of renowned artists, architects, authors, planners, historians and scholars from around the world.

Meet our Faculty & Staff

Teaching Firm in Residence

The Cummings School of Architecture in 2007 established an Architecture Teaching Firm in Residence Program that is unique in the United States, with the intention to bring the highest quality educator practitioners to the School from the region, the country and abroad for semester long stays.

The Teaching Firm in Residence Program involves two to three lead participants from a noted firm teaching in the graduate architectural design studio. Additional firm-wide resources are engaged for studio lectures, design studio review critiques at RWU and at the firm, and visits to the firm and to sites. Teaching Firms in Residence often offer a public lecture in the Cummings School of Architecture Public Events series, and often an exhibition as well.

Student Leadership

Students in the Cummings School of Architecture are involved in governance, mentoring and leadership activities.

Governance

The Cummings School of Architecture’s internal organization and website, PLANES, includes students comprehensively in the ongoing life and evolution of the School. Student representatives from each academic program also are members of the Cummings School of Architecture Student Council with the Deans, are part of the Cummings School of Architecture committee structure and have access to many leadership opportunities that are a significant part of the character of the School.

Student Mentoring 

Peer mentoring programs are available within each major. Supported by faculty and administrators, they are a critical component of community-building within the School.

Student Athlete Mentor Program

The Cummings School of Architecture has a specific mentorship program that is the only one of its kind in the country—the Student Athlete Mentor Program for Architecture students. Led by Melissa Hutchinson ’97, a two sport Academic All-American during her career at RWU, the program works closely with student-athletes, the athletic department and the faculty to coordinate time management and scheduling, facilitating the balance of each individual student’s academic studies and their intercollegiate athletic activities. Dean Stephen White received the University’s 2010 Peter H. Broomhead Award for creating the program.

Student Organizations

RWU AIAS Student Chapter

Roger Williams University’s Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is currently the fourth largest in the country, and largest chapter at a private institution.  In addition to hosting the 2011 AIAS Northeast Quad Conference September 28-October 2, 2011, the chapter sent 25 members to the national AIAS Forum in Phoenix, AZ., in January.  In addition to attending lectures, programs and conference events, a number of excursions to areas of interest were taken including a trip to the Grand Canyon.

RWU HP Society

The Historic Preservation Society is active across undergraduate and graduate levels, and received the Roger Williams University’s 2011 Community Service Award. In conjunction with the non-profit organization Historic New England, they are hosting the Fall 2011 regional conference on October 1, 2011. Entitled “Looking Forward: Preservation in New England in the Twenty-First Century,” the conference is supported by a grant from the Antoinette Downing Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

RWU Art Society

The Art Society is involved with coordinating field trips for visual arts students, and participating in RWU Admissions activities introducing prospective student to the program and the school.

RWU National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS)

The Roger Williams University NOMAS Chapter wants to actively notice the minority communities. They advocate for the growth and implementation of justice and equity within the architectural profession and the campus. NOMAS at RWU works as a united organization and alongside other local chapters across the country. As one of the first Rhode Island NOMA chapters, they hope to inspire the creation of other chapters within the state and region. NOMA's mission, rooted in a rich legacy of activism, is to empower our local chapters and membership to foster justice and equity in communities of color, through outreach, community advocacy, professional development and design excellence. 

Women's Leadership Network

The Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) connects pre-college and college students and alumni with leading faculty members and practitioners to advance educational and career potential for female students and faculty in the arts, architecture, historic preservation and construction.

Women's Leadership Network logo.Founded in 2012 through an RWU President's Inclusive Excellence Grant, the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) connects pre-college and college students and alumni with leading faculty members and practitioners to advance educational and career potential for female students and faculty in the arts, architecture, historic reservation and construction by creating a visible network of engagement and opportunity.

The WLN hosts multiple annual events at the Cummings School of Architecture and at industry events such as ABX Boston and other gatherings in support of raising awareness, mentorship, sponsorship, support and career advancement.

The Goals of the Women's Leadership Network are to:

  • Support young women in the study of architecture, historic preservation, construction or the arts
  • Retain and mentor female students through their professional course of study
  • Support female graduates and young professionals through career placement, advancement and satisfaction
  • Attract leading female faculty and practitioners to the school

Female architects at SAAHP.The WLN has worked on several occasions in conjunction with the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF), New York,dedicated to changing the culture of the building industry, for women, through education and research. BWAF leaders including Beverly Willis, FAIA have served as speakers and facilitators at our WLN planning efforts. The WLN meets regularly during the academic year, at Alumni and Homecoming weekends, and at professional gatherings.