Hassan Berry

“What is unique to me about the studio culture at Taubman College is that it is comprised of like-minded thinkers, designers, and creators who share a genuine passion for design.”

Academic Areas of Interest
Architecture, Digital Fabrication, and Visualization

Hobbies or interests outside of academia
Photography and Woodworking

Why did you choose Taubman College as the right program for you?
I chose Taubman College as the right program for me because of the research opportunities available to students and the opportunity to be taught by faculty actively engaged in research.

What is special or excites you about the Taubman community?
The want or drive the Taubman community has to create genuine change in the world is something I find really special. The fact that everyone has a unique background, drive, or story makes it a really exciting place to be and to have conversations.

If applicable, tell us about studio culture – what is inspiring or innovative or unique?
What is unique to me about the studio culture at Taubman College is that it is comprised of like-minded thinkers, designers, and creators who share a genuine passion for design. Yet each person has different thoughts, ideas, or approaches to that design, creating the opportunity to learn from and build on one another in and out of the studio.

Describe your experience with faculty and professional staff during your time at Taubman?
It honestly feels as if many of the faculty and staff here at Taubman genuinely want to see you succeed, because they almost all understand how it feels to be in your shoes. Oftentimes, I find myself walking away from conversations I have with faculty or professional staff with a new perspective or idea on a topic or matter, and sometimes on architecture as a whole.

How has Taubman’s career and professional development support prepared you for a successful career in your chosen field?
Taubman’s career and professional development team has supported and prepared me for a successful career in my chosen field by providing me with several opportunities to not only learn about the various pathways I could choose after graduation, but also talk to and engage with employers in those very fields, such as residential or commercial architecture firms, or research-based practices.

What benefits have you experienced being part of the University of Michigan?
Being part of the University of Michigan has given me access to a really expansive and knowledgeable research community. This has enabled me to work with students and faculty outside Taubman and to learn more about concepts and fields I would otherwise never have been exposed to.

What do you like most about being part of the Ann Arbor community?
I like the fact that the Ann Arbor community seems to really value the arts and the importance of emphasizing diverse forms of expression.

What advice would you give prospective students as they consider Taubman College?
I would tell prospective students, as they consider Taubman College, that there is really so much more opportunity here than meets the eye. From student organizations, faculty research projects, guest lectures, and open workshops, Taubman and the greater U-M community gives students the opportunity to specialize in something and really grow into it, whether or not it is directly related to architecture.

What are your plans after graduation?
I hope to pursue my M.Arch and become a licensed architect. I also hope to become a professor and have the opportunity to teach here at Taubman through the architecture fellowship program.

Additional advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective students?
It doesn’t matter how you get somewhere; what matters is what you do when you’re there. If you end up coming to Taubman, make sure to go out there and have conversations with people in this great community, and take advantage of what this school has to offer.