There will be changes in the leadership team of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University, Finland. Dean Tuomas Auvinen started his new term of office on 11 March 2024, and now Professor Laura Beloff has been appointed as the new Vice Dean for art and creative practices. Rasmus Vuori will continue as Vice Dean for education and Turkka Keinonen as Vice Dean for research and impact. The term of office of the Vice Deans will start on 1 September 2024.
In two of the four departments of the School, a new Head of Department will start at the same time. Professor Mikko Jalas has been appointed Head of the Department of Design and Professor Jenni Reuter Head of the Department of Architecture. Anna Heiskanen will continue as Head of the Department of Film and Harri Laakso as Head of the Department of Art and Media. The term of office of the Heads of Department will also start on 1 September 2024.
“I am pleased that there was a lot of interest in these positions in the School’s leadership team. Thank you again to all those who applied! Both the Dean’s office and our departments will have excellent experts to steer our activities forward,” says Tuomas Auvinen, Dean of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
Laura Beloff, Vice Dean for art and creative practices
Laura Beloff is an artist and professor in the Department of Art and Media. She is interested in the intersection of art, life sciences and technology. In particular, questions about the future of the human-altered environment and organisms, and the changing and overlapping definitions of the terms biology, technology, artificial and authentic. In her work, she often takes a critical perspective on the evolving connections between humans, non-human actors and society. Beloff is active both in the international art scene and in the academic world.
Mikko Jalas, Head of the Department of Design
Mikko Jalas is Professor in the field of Co-innovating for Circular Solutions at the Department of Design. His research focuses on the sustainability of production and consumption systems, energy system practices and the fair transition towards a society that respects the carrying capacity of the environment.
Jenni Reuter, Head of Department, Department of Architecture
Jenni Reuter is Professor in Architectural Principles and Theory at the Department of Architecture. Reuter’s teaching focuses on the design of spaces for a sustainable future, the possibilities of the architect’s changing job description, and the interaction between architecture and other art forms. Since 2016, she has curated the international Architecture Speaks! lecture series in collaboration with the Museum of Finnish Architecture.
Reuter works as an architect both through her own practice and together with architects Saija Hollmén and Helena Sandman. Jenni Reuter’s work is guided by the principles of ecological, social and aesthetic sustainability.
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