Shannon Reappointed Dean of UA’s School of Architecture

Jeff Shannon, dean of the University of Arkansas’ Fay Jones School of Architecture since 2000, has been reappointed to another five-year term.

Provost Sharon Gaber announced the reappointment via a university press release following a five-year review of Shannon’s performance. The review included input from faculty, staff and students, as well as discussions with Shannon about his vision for the architecture program.

“Jeff Shannon has done an excellent job, lately working under difficult conditions as Vol Walker Hall is renovated,” Gaber said in the release. “But his enthusiasm for the Fay Jones School, his obvious love for its students and faculty, and his vision for its future are inspiring. I’m pleased he agreed to continue in this important leadership role.”

Shannon earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture at the UA, and then added a master’s degree from Rice University before working at several firms, including that of Fay Jones. Shannon co-founded Polk Shannon Stanley in Little Rock in 1977, but returned to the UA as a professor in 1979.

“As we return to a renovated Vol Walker Hall and the new Anderson Design Center next August, we have a unique opportunity to enhance the excellent education we offer our students,” Shannon said in the release. “I am particularly excited about all three of our departments being in the same facility, which will allow our faculty to create innovative approaches to developing more synergistic collaborative relationships between the three programs and their respective faculties and students.

““I also look forward to generating the additional resources for our faculty, staff and students that will allow them to build on the national respect we have been able to garner over the last several years.”