Architecture academic Richard Blythe has been appointed pro vice-chancellor of Curtin University’s faculty of humanities after a global search for a candidate.
Blythe is currently dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech in the United States, previously dean of the School of Architecture and Design at RMIT University in Melbourne. He was also a founder and director of architecture practice Terroir.
Curtin University vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said, “I am extremely pleased that Professor Blythe will be the new leader for our Faculty of Humanities.
“For more than a decade, Richard has excelled in leadership roles at Virginia Tech in the US and RMIT in Australia, where he focussed on strategies to integrate practice, deliver high-quality teaching and build very successful external collaborations.
“Professor Blythe’s proven teaching and research capacity and ability to bring people, institutions and industry together, aligns with Curtin’s own focus on providing impactful and practical learning experiences and opportunities for our students.”
Richard Blythe said, “I look forward to returning to my home country and building on connections both inside and outside Curtin, including exploring opportunities in advancement to unite students, staff, community and industry in the common goals of thought leadership, high-impact research and real-world outcomes.”
“Humanities research and study has never been more important, as people around the world look for new ways to connect and create in the climate of COVID-19, and at a time of unprecedented political, economic and climate challenges. Curtin University is very well placed as a leading global institution with a reputation for future-focused, hands-on, creative and industry-aligned teaching learning and research, and I am thrilled to be a part of its exciting future.”
Blythe will assume the role later in 2021 from linguistics professor Alan Dench who has retired after five years as pro vice-chancellor and then interim provost of the university.
