Associate Professor Liska Chan has accepted a three-year appointment as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs effective August 1, Dean Christoph Lindner announced April 26.

Chan has taught at the University of Oregon since 2001 and served as Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture from 2010 to 2015. She is currently the Head of the School of Architecture & Environment.

“I am delighted that Liska has accepted the role of Associate Dean, and I look forward to her continued contributions as a critical member of the College of Design leadership team,” Lindner said.

Chan’s creative practice involves mapping to examine and show landscape change. She received a Bachelor of Arts with a focus on American landscape studies and sustainable agriculture from Hampshire College, and her Master of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. In 2016 Chan was honored by the Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects with the Lord & Schryver Award in recognition of her significant contributions to the achievement and recognition of women in landscape architecture.

In her role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Chan will be responsible for providing administrative leadership, coordination, and oversight for College-wide matters related to academics and operations. Chan’s appointment as associate dean follows an open call for nominations and self-nominations.

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve the College of Design in this capacity,” Chan said. “Looking ahead, I am especially excited to support the excellent work of the faculty, staff, and students across the whole college.”

With Chan’s departure from her position as Head of the School of Architecture & Environment, the College will be initiating a call for nominations for that role.

“It’s been a thrilling year working as Head of the School of Architecture & Environment, where I have been constantly amazed at the innovation and ambition of our faculty and students. I’ll really miss working at the heart of the devoted leadership team of the school, and yet there is so much to look forward to working at the College level and across campus," Chan said.

Lindner thanked Roxi Thoren, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Architecture, and Director of the Fuller Center for Productive Landscapes, who has served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs since 2015. Thoren also received the Oregon Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Lord & Schryver Award in 2016.

“We are grateful that [Thoren’s] skilled leadership will continue in her role as Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture beginning September 1, 2018,” Lindner said.