August marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter at the School of Architecture with the appointment of new Dean, Ila Berman. Berman, who takes the leadership mantle as Elizabeth K. Meyer returns to the faculty following a highly successful two-year term, comes to Charlottesville most recently from the University of Waterloo, where she was the O’Donovan Director of the School of Architecture in addition to being a principal of Toronto’s SCALESHIFT design. Berman’s career has also included being Associate Dean at Tulane University and Director of the School of Architecture at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She is an architect and theorist whose work has focused on the relationships between contemporary culture and architecture, urbanism, and landscape and is known as a “transformational leader” in her field, according to UVA Architecture School faculty member Robin Dripps, who served on the search committee that recommended Berman’s appointment. “She brings a sharp intellect,” Dripps said, “a substantial understanding of contemporary issues in all of our disciplines, is known as an inspirational leader, and will take an already highly regarded school to a higher level, both nationally and internationally.”