Marilyn Jordan Taylor, dean of the School of Design and Paley Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has agreed to an extension of her appointment as dean until June 30, 2016.

The announcement was made today by Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Vincent Price.

“Marilyn has been a strategic and collaborative leader, working closely with us, her expanded faculty and her strengthened leadership team to advance the School’s mission,” Gutmann said. “Since becoming dean in 2008, she has successfully enhanced PennDesign’s visibility and influence across the School’s exceptional range of programs.  PennDesign is now positioned at the leading edge of advanced research and innovative thinking on issues of urbanization, urbanism, integrated planning and design and intelligent systems of energy, water and transportation.”

“Marilyn’s effective leadership has significantly advanced PennDesign,” Price said. “The student body and faculty have increased in size, sponsored research has grown dramatically and the distinction of the School, along with its commitment to creating innovative and positive change for global communities, is spreading among colleagues, alumni and partner institutions and organizations around the world.”

During Taylor’s time as dean, new master’s degree programs in environmental building design and urban spatial analytics have been introduced, further strengthening the role of PennDesign in addressing the difficult challenges facing a growing and urbanizing world. Taylor has overseen a 13 percent growth in the student body and expanded the standing faculty by 20 percent, while the floors of Meyerson Hall are transforming into technology-based workspaces for studios and interdisciplinary study teams, with new 3-D tools.

"It's great to be asked to extend my role as dean of PennDesign‎," Taylor said, "and I'm excited to work with President Gutmann and Provost Price in advancing innovation and inclusion as pillars of the Penn Compact 2020.

“PennDesign's focus for the next two years‎ will be on creating inspiring visions, innovative strategies and implementation partnerships to advance cities of opportunity, landscapes of beauty and resilience and communities of culture and vitality."

“We are confident that, with Marilyn’s effective and inspirational leadership, PennDesign will continue to rise in academic and professional standing and will advance its role, and that of the University of Pennsylvania, in creating the research and design contributions that play a crucial role in shaping the world’s future,” Gutmann said.