Dawn Finley

Dawn Finley serves as Dean and McWhorter Endowed Chair of Auburn University's College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) since July 2024, overseeing 1,800+ students and 150 faculty across three schools. Previously, she was Professor of Architecture and Director of Graduate Studies at Rice University for over two decades, co-founding the nationally acclaimed practice Interloop—Architecture specializing in innovative building technologies and material experimentation.

Her educational background includes:

• Master of Architecture from Rice University
• Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan

Finley's research integrates architectural practice with academic inquiry, emphasizing innovative building technologies, material experimentation, and sustainable equitable solutions. She leads the Pliable workshop exploring textile techniques in architecture and founded BODY-PLUS, a forum investigating design through disability perspectives to address built environment inequities, engaging policymakers, designers, and disability communities.

Her scholarly output centers on the 2022 book System of Novelties, documenting two decades of Interloop—Architecture's work as both monograph and field guide. Publications consistently analyze architectural practice through material innovation, design methodology, and procedural continuity across scales from furniture to cultural institutions.

Dean Finley has received significant recognition:

• DesignIntelligence’s Top 25 Most Admired Educators (2016)
• AIA Educator Award by American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter (2019)
• Faculty Fellow at Rice University’s Center for Teaching Excellence (2022-2024)

As Director of Graduate Studies at Rice, she mentored students and developed curricula including disability-focused graduate studios. Her leadership elevated Rice Architecture to top national rankings through innovative programs connecting design education with real-world impact, though specific grant details aren't documented. Current initiatives like BODY-PLUS demonstrate ongoing commitment to securing research resources.

Finley co-founded Interloop—Architecture (IA) with Mark Wamble, completing projects for Nasher Sculpture Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Netherlands Architecture Institute. She directs the Pliable experimental workshop for textile-based architectural exploration and the BODY-PLUS forum facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration on inclusive design practices.