Three School of Architecture Faculty Members Recommended for Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure
We proudly announce the recommendation of three tenure-track faculty members from the School of Architecture, Prof. Dennis Chiessa, Dr. Oswald Jenewein, and Dr. Atefe Makhmalbaf, for promotion to Associate Professor with tenure, effective September 1, 2025. This significant milestone marks the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and remarkable academic contributions.
Dr. Atefe Makhmalbaf, an assistant professor at CAPPA since 2017, is a Building Science scholar specializing in Building Performance Analytics. Before joining UTA, she worked as a research engineer at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) while pursuing her Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Makhmalbaf leads a research group at UTA dedicated to enhancing building technology education, occupant-centric thermal comfort, and data-driven design strategies for sustainable built environments. Her research portfolio includes over 40 peer-reviewed publications and contributions to premier journals such as the Elsevier Journal of Energy and Buildings, Elsevier Journal of Building Engineering, and Taylor and Francis Journal of Building Performance Simulation. Additionally, she has developed and taught several key courses at UTA, earning recognition as an effective educator, including the 2025 CAPPA Teaching Excellence Award by Tenure-Track award.
Dr. Oswald Jenewein has made a notable mark as an architectural and urban designer, researcher, and teacher focused on Ecological Design and Urban Sustainability. Since he arrived at CAPPA in 2015, Dr. Jenewein has excelled in integrating climate resilience and participatory design methods across various scales, from territorial, urban, architectural to the social interface. As the founder and director of FUELED – the Future Environments Lab for Ecological Design, he has secured over $2.7 million in federal research funding and led more than 20 workshops engaging over 400 residents in vulnerable coastal communities. His diverse contributions include over a dozen peer-reviewed publications, a book about climate adaptation, and significant international exhibitions, including the 2021 European Culture Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Furthermore, Dr. Jenewein's initiatives, such as UTA's first Global Campus Program, underscore his dedication to fostering collaborative transdisciplinary teaching and research.
Professor Dennis Antonio Chiessa, AIA, is an accomplished architect and founder of ch_studio, serving as an assistant professor and Graduate Architecture Program Director at UTA. Since joining CAPPA in 2019, his work interrogates the interplay between design and community through innovative practice, research, and teaching. Chiessa's commitment to celebrating Latino contributions to design is evident in his exhibitions featured at prominent venues, including the Amarillo Museum of Art, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and the Venezia Architecture Biennale. His distinguished accolades include the 2023 Architectural Educator Award from AIA Dallas and leadership in research projects exploring urban development's impact on underrepresented communities in Fort Worth. Such projects demonstrate his advocacy for social equity and diversity in architecture and planning.
The tenure review process at UTA is rigorous, designed to assess faculty members' scholarly contributions, teaching effectiveness, and service to the university community. Their commitment to fostering diversity, sustainability, and innovative design practices is evidence of this accomplishment. The college looks forward to their continued contributions as they transition into their new roles as Associate Professors with tenure.