Professor Nan Ellin has been honored with the title of dean emeritus by the University of Colorado Denver, recognizing her substantial contributions to the College of Architecture and Planning and the wider field of urban design.
The designation, which was recommended by the provost and sanctioned by the chancellor, serves as a tribute to Dr. Ellin’s legacy of leadership, scholarship, and dedicated service throughout her tenure.
Upon receiving the title, Dr. David Rifkind, current dean of the College of Architecture and Planning, expressed his pride in acknowledging Professor Ellin’s impactful service during her tenure.
He remarked that the title of dean emeritus symbolizes the university’s deep appreciation of her numerous contributions, reinforcing the ongoing influence of her work in the academic community.
Dr. Ellin served as the dean of the College of Architecture and Planning for six years, during which she made significant strides including boosting philanthropic donations to the college and forging stronger ties with the community.
Throughout her tenure, she successfully overseen the naming of the Dana Crawford Preservation Program and actively contributed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives within the college.
She also introduced new studies in the field of interior design, expanded opportunities for research and creative work, and provided multiple rounds of seed grants to faculty.
Moreover, she played a key role in spearheading Ecodesign Denver (eDEN) and led major renovations at the CU Denver Building.
The strategic plan for the college during Dr. Ellin’s leadership included the impactful tagline, ‘Real People + Real Projects = Real Difference.’ This slogan underscored the significance of actively engaging with real sites, clients, and contemporary societal issues in order to foster meaningful change.
Under her guidance, the college established itself as a dynamic hub for innovation, research, and creative endeavors, emphasizing the integral role of community engagement through hands-on projects.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ellin has recently initiated the Design/HEALth project, partnered with Don Ruggles and the Center for Bioethics and Humanities from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
This innovative program aims to enhance quality of life by improving our human environments on various scales, from the smallest elements like wastebaskets to broader locales such as watersheds and communities.
In addition to her new initiatives, Dr. Ellin remains active on the Denver Mayor’s Downtown Design Advisory Board and has returned to teaching in tandem with her research and creative projects.
Her extensive work in placemaking and community building has granted her recognition around the world, with six of her books and numerous articles translated into thirteen languages including French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese.
Dr. Ellin is currently excited to be writing her next book, titled ‘Our Cities, Ourselves’, which she describes as a project focusing on creating spaces for the soul.
The dean emeritus designation not only honors her leadership and visionary contributions but also ensures that her experience and insights will continue to benefit the university and its community for years to come.
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