Ken Yocom has been appointed as the dean of the University of Washington College of Built Environments, as announced today by Provost Tricia Serio. His appointment, which will be effective July 1, is pending approval from the UW Board of Regents.

Ken Yocom

Yocom has acted as interim dean since October 2024 and is a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, where he previously held the role of department chair. A long-serving faculty member at UW, Yocom contributes extensive institutional insight, a cooperative leadership style, and a deep-rooted commitment to the college’s mission of promoting justice, sustainability, and resilience through the built environment.

“Ken has demonstrated thoughtful and consistent leadership during this crucial transition phase,” Serio stated. “He brings not only profound institutional expertise but also a clear vision for how the college can address future challenges and opportunities. His collaborative approach and focus on students will further enhance the college’s influence both locally and beyond.”

Yocom’s research and instruction focus on the interactions between ecological systems and the built environment, particularly on how infrastructure, water, and landscape influence communities. His work embodies the college’s dedication to place-based, interdisciplinary strategies that tackle today’s most urgent societal issues — such as climate change, housing equity, and public health.

“It is a privilege to continue leading this exceptional college — a community shaped by purpose, creativity, and compassion,” Yocom remarked. “At the College of Built Environments, we do not merely prepare students to design structures or plan urban spaces — we empower them to envision and create a better world. I am inspired by the ways our faculty, staff, and students unite to address pressing challenges, and I look forward to what we will create — together.”

Yocom holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a doctorate in built environments from the University of Washington. As dean, he will oversee a college that integrates architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate, and urban planning in the pursuit of transformative solutions for communities and the planet.