June 10, 2025
Ken Yocom appointed dean of UW College of Built Environments
Ken Yocom has been named dean of the University of Washington College of Built Environments, Provost Tricia Serio announced today. His appointment, effective July 1, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents.
Ken Yocom
Yocom has served as interim dean since October 2024 and is a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, where he previously served as department chair. A longtime member of the UW faculty, Yocom brings deep institutional knowledge, a collaborative leadership style and a long-standing commitment to the college’s mission of advancing justice, sustainability and resilience through the built environment.
“Ken has been a thoughtful and steady leader during a critical period of transition,” Serio said. “He brings not only deep institutional knowledge but a clear vision for how the college can meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. His collaborative approach and student-centered focus will continue to strengthen the college’s impact in our region and beyond.”
Yocom’s research and teaching examine the relationships between ecological systems and the built environment, with a particular focus on how infrastructure, water and landscape shape communities. His work reflects the college’s commitment to place-based, interdisciplinary solutions that respond to today’s most pressing societal challenges — from climate change to housing access to public health.
“It’s an honor to continue leading this remarkable college — a community defined by purpose, creativity and care,” Yocom said. “At the College of Built Environments, we don’t just prepare students to design buildings or plan cities — we help them imagine and shape a better world. I’m inspired by the ways our faculty, staff and students come together to confront urgent challenges, and I’m excited for what we will build — 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 lead a college that brings together architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate and urban planning in pursuit of transformative solutions for communities and the planet.
Tag(s): College of Built Environments • Ken Yocom • Provost Office
