has been named the next John and Rosalind Jacobi Family Endowed Dean of the , Provost Tricia Serio announced today. His appointment, effective July 1, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents.
Yocom has served as interim dean since October 2024 and is a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, where he previously served as department chair. A longtime member of the UW faculty, Yocom brings deep institutional knowledge, a collaborative leadership style and a long-standing commitment to the college鈥檚 mission of advancing justice, sustainability and resilience through the built environment.
鈥淜en has been a thoughtful and steady leader during a critical period of transition,鈥� Serio said. 鈥淗e brings not only deep institutional knowledge but a clear vision for how the college can meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. His collaborative approach and student-centered focus will continue to strengthen the college鈥檚 impact in our region and beyond.鈥�
Yocom鈥檚 research and teaching examine the relationships between ecological systems and the built environment, with a particular focus on how infrastructure, water and landscape shape communities. His work reflects the college鈥檚 commitment to place-based, interdisciplinary solutions that respond to today鈥檚 most pressing societal challenges 鈥� from climate change to housing access to public health.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to continue leading this remarkable college 鈥� a community defined by purpose, creativity and care,鈥� Yocom said. 鈥淎t the College of Built Environments, we don鈥檛 just prepare students to design buildings or plan cities 鈥� we help them imagine and shape a better world. I鈥檓 inspired by the ways our faculty, staff and students come together to confront urgent challenges, and I鈥檓 excited for what we will build 鈥� together.鈥�
Yocom holds a master鈥檚 degree in landscape architecture and a doctorate in built environments from the 天美影视传媒. As dean, he will lead a college that brings together architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate and urban planning in pursuit of transformative solutions for communities and the planet.