Stephen Slaughter has been appointed as the new chair of architecture in the Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture. He will take office on July 1, 2022. During the spring, Acting President Jason Lee, Acting Co-President Farzam Yazdansita, and Acting Assistant President Alicia Imperial will continue to lead the program.
“The appointment of Stephen ends the nomination and selection process for all schools,” said Dr. Harriet Harris, Dean of the School of Architecture. It is a reflection of the many talents, strengths, and future aspirations of our faculty and students. Within his role as Head of Undergraduate Architecture, Stephen’s solid experience will further advance and enhance our commitment to social justice and the climate crisis curriculum and ensure that our graduates are best placed to advance pedagogy, public policy, and professional practice. “
As chair of the undergraduate architecture department, Slaughter will oversee the department of approximately 700 students and 180 faculty members. Since 2000, the Bachelor of Architecture program has been ranked among the top ten programs in the United States by design intelligence. They engage students in professional knowledge that prioritizes creativity, critical thinking, ethical judgment, and technological expertise. In support of these core goals, undergraduate architecture includes a minor in construction management and a concentration in morphology.
Slaughter is currently a Visiting Associate Professor in the Pratt Graduate Program in Architecture and Urban Design (GAUD), as well as an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Kentucky and a Visiting Associate Professor in the School of Architecture and Interior Design (SAID) at the University of Cincinnati. A longtime teacher, he was previously an Associate Professor in the University of Cincinnati School of Design, Architecture, Arts and Planning and has held teaching positions at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, Woodbury University, University of Houston, and UCLA. He is also the former Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator at GAUD and an active participant in the DEI Task Force.
“I am delighted to step into this role at Pratt and look forward to engaging with the community to advance important conversations about inclusivity in the fields of architecture and design,” said Slaughter. “Architecture for Everyone and in educating the next generation of architects, I hope you instill this idea. Exuberance, joy, and beauty in design are what I deeply care about—and can be to everyone.”
Slaughter, an architect, urban designer, and academic, began his career at Morphosis Architects, founded by Thom Mayne. As a first-generation undergraduate student, he earned a master’s degree in architecture and a bachelor’s of science in architecture from Ohio State University. His portfolio includes collaborations with practices around the world including retail stores, residences, restaurants and large-scale institutional projects. The ongoing focus of his work is to challenge traditional architectural orthodoxy, which led to his co-founding of PHAT, a four-person collaborative, interdisciplinary design that has been exhibited at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Center for Architecture in New York, and the Fonds Régional d’s Young Architects Gallery. ‘Art Contemporain in Orleans, France.
Working with and for nonprofit organizations such as the Watts House Project, Findlay Market, Youth Hope Cincinnati, and Elementz Hip Hop Cultural Art Center, he has developed projects that champion diverse communities and improve the built environment through sustainable and conscientious design.
In his role as President, he plans to focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and foster a nurturing space where all students can feel challenged and empowered to achieve their personal and intellectual goals.