David Cronrath has been named the next dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland. He will begin his Maryland post on July 1.

Cronrath has been a practicing architect and educator for over 25 years. Most recently, he served as Dean of the College of Art & Design at Louisiana State University for seven years and as a faculty member in the School of Architecture. His leadership has focused on student learning, faculty achievement, facility improvement, and advancement of the role of the designer in the broader community through distinctive public education, community outreach, and exhibition programs. 

He has pursued an active role in the professional community and local civic organizations.  He is a founding board member of the Center for Planning Excellence, a non-profit organization that coordinates urban, rural and regional planning efforts in Louisiana. He also served as a member of the East Baton Rouge Mayor-President's Steering Committee on Smart Growth, a Board member and Past-President of the American Institute of Architects Baton Rouge Chapter, an accreditation team member of the National Architectural Accrediting Board, and has served on national committees for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards since 1999.

A native of the Philadelphia region, Cronrath was a principal of FRIDAY Architects/Planners, Inc., a Philadelphia firm that has received numerous awards for architectural design and community planning. His professional work in Philadelphia includes participation in two large-scale projects - Penn's Landing, an urban design project along the Delaware River in downtown Philadelphia, and the SEPTA Regional Public Transit Master Plan. He also directed the Philadelphia Architects Workshop, at the time the oldest community design center in the country. In this role, he helped provide design and planning services to over 90 community organizations a year and collaborated with the Community Legal Services Agency.

Cronrath holds the Bachelor of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University and the Master of Architecture from University of California-Berkeley.

The School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland is home to four academic disciplines: architecture, urban planning, historic preservation and real estate development. Committed to educating its students and community about the importance of sustainability and smart growth, the School practices an interdisciplinary approach to education, research, creative work, and community and professional service. For more information, please e-mail us or call 301.405.8000.

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