Welcome New Associate Chairs
The Department of Architectural Science welcomes new Associate Chairs starting July 1, 2025.
Dr. June Komisar resumes the role of Associate Chair of Undergraduate Student Affairs, a position she previously held in 2022-2023 and intermittently since 2018. In this role, June will be the first point of contact for Bachelor of Architectural Science students on curriculum matters, while providing leadership of recruitment activities, and support for a variety of program events and initiatives. When asked what she loves about this role, June says, “I like to help students succeed.”
Dr. Komisar joined DAS in 2003, just as she was finishing her PhD in Architecture from the University of Michigan. She also holds a MArch from Yale and BA in Studio Fine Arts from Clark University in Massachusetts. Her research expertise includes architectural design, history and theory as well as designing for urban agriculture. During her Winter 2025 sabbatical she spent time in Paris studying urban agriculture and writing about Brazilian architecture. Some of her research can be found on the Carrot City website – a research initiative dedicated to the design of urban agriculture.
Prof. Carlo Parente begins the role of Associate Chair of the Architecture graduate program. In this role, Carlo will be the first point of contact for Master of Architecture and Architecture PhD students, providing academic leadership, program management and curriculum oversight, while supporting various Departmental, Faculty and YSGPS initiatives. Why is Carlo excited for this role? “I'm excited to help shape a program that supports grad students' diverse interests and prepares them with the knowledge and skills they'll need to thrive in practice.”
Prof. Parente joined DAS in 2018 after teaching at the Illinois Institute of Technology and School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Carlo holds a BTech Architectural Science from TMU and MArch from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he also worked for AS+GG (external link) . His architectural practice (external link) and curatorial research addresses performance-based design, adaptive reuse, design agency and pedagogy.
He is part of the Steering Committee for the CTBUH 2025 Conference From the Ground Up (external link) .
DAS also extends a heartfelt thank you to those leaving these roles to take well-earned sabbaticals: Hitesh Doshi, who served as Associate Chair of Undergraduate Student Affairs 2024-2025 and Paul Floerke, who served as Associate Chair of the Architecture Graduate Program from 2022 to 2025.
Continuing Associate Chairs include: Dr. Jenn McArthur, Graduate Program in Project Management in the Built Environment, Dr. Russell Richman, Graduate Program in Building Science, Prof. Cheryl Atkinson, Mobility and Global Learning, Prof. Yew-Thong Leong, Experiential Learning and Co-op.
According to DAS Chair Lisa Landrum, “Directing a Department involves teamwork and dreamwork. I’m grateful to those who step-up to the challenge, responsibility and privilege of collaborative leadership.”