Renée Cheng was named dean of the College of Built Environments in January 2019. Previously, Cheng served as head of the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota.

Cheng is a leader in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and advocates for equity in the field of architecture and in the practices related to the built environment. Recently, Cheng led the research effort for the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice. 

Known for her pedagogical skill designing classes and programs that empower students and integrate practice with academia, Cheng has twice won the AIA Practice Leadership Award. She has been named one of the top 25 most admired design educators in the U.S. by DesignIntelligence and an Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor and was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows. 

As a bold thought leader, Cheng is frequently called upon for keynotes and lectures on the future of the built environment and equitable practices in the built environment.

A licensed architect, her professional experience includes work for Pei, Cobb, Freed and Partners and Richard Meier and Partners before founding Cheng-Olson Design.

Dr. Laura Osburn is a member of the research and writing team for the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice and the supplementary edition, Justice in the Built Environment. She is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Construction Management at the University of Washington where she focuses on projects that concern collaborative cultures, work practices, and new technologies in the building industry. She has worked on projects funded by the National Science Foundation, General Services Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of Washington, Sound Transit, Skanska Inc., the Port of Seattle, the American Institute of Architects, Washington State Department of Labor & Industry, and the Charles Pankow Foundation.