Richard Cleary, Faculty

April 27, 2016
In this SOA Voices, we speak with Dr. Richard Cleary.
richard cleary

In this post, we speak with Richard Cleary. Dr. Cleary's current research projects include studies of Frank Lloyd Wright and building technology, for which he recently received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Council of Learned Societies, and of architecture commissioned, designed, or built by French missionaries in Texas in the 19th century.

What program(s) are you associated with in the School? How long have you been at the university?
I joined the faculty of the School of Architecture in 1995. I teach courses in architectural history and theory and work with students ranging from first-year undergraduates to Ph.D. candidates.

In what ways have you incorporated diversity and equity in your teaching and research?
In my teaching, I try to foster settings in which all students feel welcome to share their thoughts and regard the pursuit of knowledge as a collective endeavor. I hold empathy as a guiding ideal. With respect to diversity and course content, I strive to approach architectural history from multiple perspectives to better see the many hands that shape the built environment.

What does diversity mean to you?
Diversity for me means having at the table a range of voices reflecting different experiences.

Can you describe the sense of community at the School?
I see our school in terms of nested communities bound together by an awareness of and concern for the quality of our built environment.

What are your aspirations –big or small– for the future?
I aspire to open-ended learning and a spirit of mutual respect.