The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's School of Architecture and Design has a new leader. Longtime faculty member Tom Sammons, who has served as the school's interim director since June of 2012, has been named its director.
A professor of architecture, Sammons has been director of the University's Community Design Workshop for 18 years. The CDW helps revitalize communities, with input from faculty members and design work by senior architecture students.
Sammons is also chair of the UL Lafayette Campus Planning Committee and previously served as the School's graduate school coordinator.
In 2005, he earned the University's Distinguished Professor Award, which recognizes outstanding faculty members for their contributions in teaching, research and service. Sammons holds the Contractors' Educational Trust Fund/Board of Regents Support Fund Professor in Art and Architecture Chair.
"We intend to build on the strong foundation of design and achievement that UL Lafayette offers," he said. As director, Sammons said he plans to expand graduate school offerings and increase the number of online courses.
Gordon Brooks, dean of the College of the Arts, said that Sammons was chosen after a national search "produced many top-notch candidates with impressive experiences and capabilities. After campus interviews, Tom Sammons was appointed because of his unique qualifications and leadership abilities."
Brooks also noted that the architecture program is undergoing reaccreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board and that Sammons a key figure in that effort. He has been responsible for organizing the faculty teams that authored the Architecture Program Report, an in-depth document that describes the program, its curriculum, faculty and student achievements, and how the program meets the accreditation criteria.
Sammons joined the University faculty in 1994.