FAMU looked internally to find the next dean of the School of Architecture + Engineering Technology (SAET) by making interim dean Andrew Chin the new permanent dean. Chin has served as interim dean since the retirement of Rodner Wright in 2022. He previously served as the School’s interim dean from 2016 to 2018, and from 2012 to 2015, when Wright was called upon to serve as VP of Academic Affairs and Provost. His past experience leading the school made him the obvious choice for the permanent role, why FAMU took so long to name him the permanent dean is mind boggling.
With more than 32 years of experience in higher education, Chin was essentially the glue that held the school together. He has held several leadership roles within the school, including associate dean, assistant dean, and program director for graduate and professional programs.
In making the announcement, Provost Allyson Watson praised Chin for “expanding the frontiers of architecture and engineering technology to foster academic excellence and student success.”
“He has a resolute focus on bolstering undergraduate and graduate program enrollment that has been a hallmark of his tenure,” Watson said. “His strategic vision underscores the pivotal role of robotics in the future of engineering technology and the need for transformative architectural solutions that push the boundaries of design.”
Since 1991, Chin has taught design studios, thesis research, and urban design classes at FAMU, the University of Florida, and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has secured more than $1 million in external funding from federal and state agencies, and foundations, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Florida Department of Community Affairs, and the Andrew Mellon Foundation. His research has been published in more than 15 journals and primarily focuses on the intersection of race and urban form North Florida communities.
At SAET, Chin has solidified vital partnerships with the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the State of Floridian Division of Historical Resources to rehabilitate historic buildings on the main campus.
“I am deeply honored to assume the role of the newly appointed dean and continue the legacy of excellence established by the previous SAET dean and current faculty, staff, students, and alums,” said Chin. “I look forward to being part of a nationally recognized school that continues to inspire the next generation of design and engineering leaders and innovators.”
The Baldwin, New York native earned his Bachelor of Design and Master of Architecture from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in Urban & Regional Planning at Florida State University.