Brett Steele

Brett Steele is the Dean of the USC School of Architecture and holds the Della & Harry MacDonald Dean’s Chair in Architecture. A renowned architectural scholar, he previously served as Dean of UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture and Director of the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) in London. His academic background includes a diploma from the Architectural Association and studies at the University of Oregon and San Francisco Art Institute.

His research focuses on modern architecture’s evolution, computational design, and the intersection of art, education, and public policy. Steele advocates for inclusive education and cross-cultural exchange, having led initiatives to diversify student enrollment and modernize curricula at UCLA. He expanded the AA into a global leader in architectural education, launching the AA Visiting School with programs across 50+ cities.

• Key Roles: Dean (USC), former Dean (UCLA Arts), former Director (AA School)
• Leadership Achievements: Funded facility upgrades at UCLA, transformed AA’s academic programs, led global expansion of design education

Steele has authored over 200 publications and edited six books, including seminal works on modern architectural theory. His awards include honorary fellowships from the Royal Institute of British Architects and Royal Society for the Arts.

He champions civic engagement in design, organizing exhibitions like the Le Corbusier’s Maison Domino reconstruction (2014), and founded the AA Design Research Lab. As a first-generation university student, he emphasizes architecture’s role in social mobility and global learning.