The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture announces John Harris as Associate Dean for Research ad interim, effective Aug. 25, 2026, until the permanent position is filled.
John joins the front office leadership team at Gibbs College at a critical time. College faculty research productivity is at an historic high, and partnerships are flourishing with other faculty across the Norman and Health Science campuses and with centers at the OU Office of the Vice Presidents for Research and Partnerships (VPRP). Funded research with entities outside of the university continues at a rapid pace. Gibbs College faculty are producing with increasing impact through book and journal publications, funded research, technology patents, community-engaged outcomes, technical reports, and award-winning built professional projects. As the university recommits to the refreshed Lead, On strategic plan, the time is right for Gibbs College to accelerate its contributions to critical university-wide priorities improving health, housing, community resilience, and quality of life in our built form.
John is currently Professor of Regional & City Planning and holds the Wick Cary Professorship as well as the President’s Associates Presidential Professorship. He will continue to serve as director of the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design while serving as our interim associate dean for research. He has contributed to over 20 publications, dozens of technical reports, and has been a member of teams awarded over $22 Million for funded research. He is currently a co-PI on at least four major grants where he is directly responsible for external expenditures totaling over $2M. During his tenure here at OU and as part of his collaborations, John has built strong relationships with leadership at ICAST, IREES, DISC, IPPRA, and SCIPP among other campus contributors.
“I look forward to helping maintain the Gibbs College research momentum through continued partnerships across campus and supporting all the ways Gibbs College faculty make the world a better place through their research and creative activities,” shared John.
A search committee will form during the fall 2026 semester and lead a campus-wide search for a candidate to take on the full-time position of Associate Dean for Research at Gibbs College. The position will hopefully be filled by May 2027.
Join us in welcoming John into this important position.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce the promotion of Ph.D. student Rafael Hernandez to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Gibbs College of Architecture Assistant Professor Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, has co-authored a new book chapter with Josh Newton and Andrew Born, published in De Gruyter Handbook of the Geographies of Race.
Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design (PLAD) alumni Trey Ingram, AICP recently spoke with current PLAD student and graduate media assistant Molly Strobel to share his experiences with the Regional and City Planning program and current work with the Toyota Mobility Foundation.
