Taubman College welcomes 10 new faculty members – including a new chair of the architecture program – and three fellows for the 2024-25 academic year.
The new faculty and fellows bring a wealth of expertise and experience in the fields of architecture, urban and regional planning, real estate, and urban technology.
“At Taubman, we are growing our expertise in urban technology, the emerging field of design and practice where data and technology intersect with buildings, cities, and communities, as we build out our first-of-its-kind undergraduate degree in this field,” said Dean Jonathan Massey. “We are strengthening our real estate offerings. And we are drawing on talented architects, planners, and technologists from our region as well as nationally and internationally, to offer students a rich combination of insights drawn from practice as well as scholarship.”
New Faculty
Following an international search, Antje Steinmuller was named chair of the architecture program, beginning her three-year appointment on July 15. Steinmuller, who also joined the Taubman faculty as a professor of architecture, previously was an associate professor at California College of the Arts (CCA), where she taught for 17 years. She chaired the Bachelor of Architecture program and co-directed the Urban Works Agency, CCA’s urbanism research lab. Her research explores the role of design at the intersection of citizen-led and city-regulated processes in the production of urban space – from new typologies of urban commons and new forms of collective living to the agency of architecture in the housing crisis. Steinmuller holds a Diplom-Ingenieur in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design (Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart), a Vordiplom in Architecture (Technische Universität Berlin), and a Master of Architecture (University of California Berkeley). She is co-founder of ideal X, a design consultancy focused on the collective potentials of urban spaces in transition, and previously was a principal at Studio URBIS in Berkeley. “In her thoughtfulness and presence, Antje signaled to us a truly committed and deep respect for the role of the chair, and a vision for collaboratively establishing the ongoing evolution of architecture pedagogy,” said Catie Newell, chair of the search committee and associate professor of architecture.
Following an appointment as a visiting faculty member, Lisa Sauvé, M.Arch ’11, M.S. ’14, joins the faculty as an assistant professor of practice. She is principal/CEO and co-founder of Synecdoche, an award-winning design/make interdisciplinary studio in Ann Arbor and Detroit, and also the founder of Do Good Work, a nonprofit that supports creatives with resources and placemaking strategies toward a strong and inclusive social, economic, and cultural fabric of our community. She also cofounded StudioStudio, a modern venue and coworking space for creatives and photographers in Ann Arbor. Sauvé was named one of Crain’s Detroit Notable Women in Design in 2020, and in 2021 was recognized by Forbes Next 1000 and won an AIA Michigan Young Architect Award.
Clarinda Barnett-Harrison, A.B. ’03, is a lecturer of urban planning. With 20-plus years of urban planning, design and economic development experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge, having held leadership positions at the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and other local and regional economic development organizations. As director of the Skills initiatives for Michigan Central, she currently is developing a fully equitable strategy to develop, retain and attract talent for future of mobility jobs. Previously, she was the head of equity and inclusion for Ford’s Autonomous Vehicles and Mobility Businesses, where she focused on guiding the executive leadership team to include equity principles into product and service design and go-to-market strategies. Her contributions to Ford were recognized by the Global DEI team in 2021. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the business community as Michigan Chronicle’s Women of Excellence Honoree 2018, Crain’s 40 under 40 in 2017, and the Michigan Business Professional Association Women in Leadership Shooting Star Award. The Michigan Economic Developers Association honored her with the Mike Conboy Award for Professional Development and Detroit Young Professionals recognized her professional contributions with a Van Guard award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in economics, management, and psychology from U-M, and a master’s degree in urban planning from Wayne State University.
Robb Burroughs, M.S. ’96, is an adjunct practice instructor in urban and regional planning. A registered architect in Michigan, Burroughs is a principal and managing partner at OX Studio in Ann Arbor, where he has worked since 2010. Previously, he served as vice president at Hobbs & Black Architects. He has remained active in academia, including adjunct professorships at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and guest critic roles at UDM and U-M. Burroughs has a master’s degree in architectural history and theory from U-M and a bachelor’s in architecture from UDM.
James Hovell is an adjunct practice instructor in urban technology. He is a multifaceted professional encompassing roles as a designer, software developer, machinist, and metal fabricator. His innovative work includes designing and developing educational exhibits for The Exploratorium in San Francisco. He has also created urban prototypes for festivals and hackathons, collaborating with the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts to reimagine municipal and public spaces in San Francisco. In partnership with Our City, he designed and fabricated temporary playground prototypes, celebrating the spirit of play for the City of Oakland. Since returning to Detroit, he has contributed his expertise to the Michigan Science Center, overseeing their exhibit collection. Previously, he served as a faculty member at the College for Creative Studies, where he taught advanced courses in experience and interaction design. He holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.
Robert Jacobson, A.B. ‘94, is a lecturer in urban and regional planning. He is an expert in affordable housing with over 25 years of experience in the field. His extensive portfolio includes the development of new construction units, the acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing, and the adaptive reuse of historic structures. His projects have spanned from 12 to 200 housing units, totaling some $500 million in transactions. He has renovated around 700,000 square feet of historic properties into modern, LEED-certified affordable housing and commercial spaces, adhering to the standards set by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Jacobson serves on the board of directors for Shelter America Group, a Seattle-based nonprofit that oversees 28 affordable housing developments, totaling 3,000 units. He is also the owner and president of Leelanau Wine Cellars Ltd., the 60th-largest winery in the United States. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from U-M.
Wonwoo Lee, A.B. ’11, M.U.P. ’13, is an adjunct practice instructor in urban planning, with an emphasis on commercial real estate and city planning. He works as chief real estate officer for Oxford Companies in Ann Arbor. He also serves as the chairperson of the City of Ann Arbor’s Planning Commission, reviewing and applying the unified development code to approve development proposals in the city. Lee was named to Crain’s Detroit 40 under 40 in 2023 for his achievements in the southeastern Michigan business community. He’s also in the Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame for Midwest REJournals for completing more than $500 million in real estate transactions in commercial leasing and investment sales. Lee has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in urban planning, both from U-M. He also holds a graduate certificate in real estate development from U-M and an executive education certificate in negotiations from Harvard Business School.
Andrew Selinger, A.B. ’10, is an adjunct practice instructor specializing in real estate development. He serves as the chief investment officer at Oxford Companies in Ann Arbor, where his main roles include leading property acquisitions, dispositions, and refinances; coordinating equity fundraising; and managing investor relations. He has raised $60 million in equity and oversees relationships with more than 200 investors. He develops and implements strategic business initiatives in collaboration with the executive team and board of advisors. Selinger is a graduate of the Larson Center for Leadership and a member of the Urban Land Institute and its Real Estate and Technology Local Product Council. He has a Bachelor of Arts in economics from U-M, where he completed coursework in real estate development, finance, architecture, and urban planning. During his time at the university, Selinger was a board member of the Alternative Investments Club and a member of the Michigan Economic Society.
Elliot Smithberger, M.Arch/M.S.D.M.T. ’23, a designer and digital fabrication researcher at Taubman College, joins the faculty as an adjunct lecturer in architecture. His research is focused on prototyping digital design tools, developing open-source machine control software, and building low-cost personal fabrication devices. His work and collaborations have been showcased at U-M’s Liberty Research Annex, the Banvard Gallery at the Knowlton School of Architecture, and Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Additionally, his projects have been featured in Dimensions, Dezeen, DesignBoom, and Archdaily.
Joe Vig, B.B.A. ’91, joins the college as an adjunct practice instructor in urban and regional planning. The veteran contractor will focus on sustainable design and construction for the real estate professional. Vig has served as chief executive of JS Vig Construction Co. since 1997. With a sales volume of $90 million in 2023, the commercial, industrial, and institutional contractor has worked on such projects as Schembechler Hall and the redevelopment of Ann Arbor Commerce Park. “My goal is to share my love of the built environment and its impact on society, the natural environment, and human culture,” Vig says. “This specific class will provide a practical overview of real estate, as it relates to identifying sites, developing a preliminary design and budget, obtaining permits and approvals, evaluating project feasibility, and doing all things that precede the groundbreaking of a successful project. Vig holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from U-M’s Ross School of Business.
New Architecture Fellows
Angela Cho is an architectural designer, educator, and ceramicist based in Toronto and Ann Arbor. Highly manual and abundant in plaster and clay, her work grapples with philosophies and techniques of memory, preservation, scale, tactility, originality, and experiential sequence. Her design and pedagogy attempt to exacerbate natural tensions between index and mimesis, accident and control, movement and stillness, detail and context, and between different media, the latter often dissolving the conventional boundaries between disciplines. She has worked at Productora in Mexico City and Office of Adrian Phiffer in Toronto and collaborates with Phiffer on architectural competition projects. Cho has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council, has exhibited internationally, and has attended artist residencies in South Korea and the United States. She has taught at Toronto Metropolitan University and at The University of Toronto, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in interior design and a master’s in architecture.
Tess Clancy is a designer and educator based in the U.S. and Rome. Her research and design lie at the intersection between architectural history, memory of place, and political power structures, specifically the complex role of public monuments and architecture’s capacity to augment and subvert the embedded power of a monument. She is particularly concerned with the potential for experimental representation to visualize and synthesize such intersections and augmentations. Her master’s thesis (Eroding the Confederacy: Revealing and Dismantling White Supremacy on Richmond’s Monument Ave.) won the Ruth Bentley and Richmond Harold Shreve Award for best M.Arch thesis. In 2023 she received the Robert James Eidlitz travel fellowship to fund an ongoing project, Architectures Against Fascism. Her work is published in the Cornell Journal of Architecture (Fear, Sp. 2020) and the Hyphen Journal (Penn State, 2023). She has taught studios and visual representation courses at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) and Penn State University and worked for New Affiliates in New York Labics in Rome. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr College and an M.Arch from Cornell AAP.
Francesca Mavaracchio is an Italian architect and the co-founder of 4051, a multidisciplinary practice operating between Italy and Switzerland. Her research explores contemporary forms of visual representation and their potential physical manifestations in architecture. In 2023, she was a fellow at the MacDowell residency program in Peterborough, where she developed a series of works that translate relevant contemporary narratives into architectural elements. Francesca previously worked as an architect at Herzog & de Meuron in Basel, contributing to projects across Switzerland, Italy, France, South Korea, and China. She holds an MSc in architecture, urbanism, and building sciences from TU Delft and a Bachelor of Science in urbanism from Politecnico di Milano.
