Professor Nan Ellin Awarded Dean Emeritus Status
The University of Colorado Denver has awarded Professor Nan Ellin the title of dean emeritus, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the College of Architecture and Planning, the university, and the field of urban design. Recommended by the provost and approved by the chancellor, the designation celebrates Dr. Ellin’s legacy of leadership, scholarship, and service. As dean emeritus, Dr. Ellin continues to be an esteemed part of the university’s academic community with her experience and perspective remaining a valued resource to the college.
“I am pleased to acknowledge Professor Nan Ellin’s service and leadership during her tenure,” said Dr. David Rifkind, dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at CU Denver. “The designation of dean emeritus reflects the university’s appreciation for her contributions, and I join my colleagues in recognizing the ongoing impact of her work.”
Design and Planning for the Emergent Future
As dean of the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) for six years, Dr. Ellin significantly increased philanthropic gifts to the college, strengthened relationships with the larger community, oversaw the naming of the Dana Crawford Preservation Program, contributed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the college, introduced new studies in interior design, expanded opportunities for research and creative work, provided five rounds of seed grants to CAP faculty, grew transdisciplinary collaborations including the spearheading of Ecodesign Denver (eDEN), and led major renovations to the CU Denver Building, among many other contributions.
As part of the college’s strategic plan during her tenure, Dr. Ellin coined the tagline, “Real People + Real Projects = Real Difference.” This theme emphasized the importance of engaging real sites, clients, and contemporary issues to effect positive change and positioned the college as a vibrant hub for innovation, research, and creative work. Through her investigations and conversations with the community, students, faculty, and staff, Dr. Ellin emphasized the critical role of engaging with people and organizations in our community and participation in real-world, hands-on projects to make a real difference for the future of our professions.
What’s Next for Dean Emeritus Nan Ellin
Most recently, Dr. Ellin launched Design/HEALth, co-convened with Don Ruggles, architect and director of the Classical Studies Certificate Program, and in partnership with the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. This initiative seeks to enhance life quality for everyone by improving our human habitat at all scales from the wastebasket to the watershed, and from the home to biome.
Dr. Ellin also serves on the Denver Mayor’s Downtown Design Advisory Board and has returned to teaching as well as her own research and creative projects. Widely recognized for her work in placemaking and community building, Dr. Ellin’s six books and numerous articles have been translated into thirteen languages: French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Farsi, Serbo-Croatian, Lithuanian, Korean, and Chinese. Excited to be writing her next book, titled Our Cities, Ourselves, Dr. Ellin explains, “it’s about creating places for the soul, and from the soul.”
The dean emeritus designation honors the enduring influence of her leadership and vision. As a thought leader, educator, author, and consultant, she continues to ignite evolution that enriches places for people and the planet