FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - When asked what lured her to the University of Arkansas, Patricia Kucker will tell you it was the exceptional faculty and students at the School of Architecture.

As the newly appointed department of architecture head, effective November 1, 2002, Kucker has set out to shape well-rounded leaders rather than "practice-ready" architects.

"The academy must focus its efforts toward maintaining a good balance between professional training requirements and the responsibility of giving aspiring architects a sufficiently broad education to actively engage and hopefully provide leadership in contemporary society," she said. "In the 21st century, architecture will expand to become an increasingly dynamic discipline that must continually define its basic subjects in order to remain relevant. "

Kucker has developed and shaped this pedagogy over time, including seven years at the University of Virginia most recently, three years at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and various visiting and lecture positions at Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Her numerous teaching awards include a 1999 Associate of Collegiate Schools of Architecture New Faculty Award and an Honorable Mention in the 1999 American Institute of Architects Education Honors Awards Program.

Kucker puts theories into practice as well: at Virginia, she collaborated with professor John Maze to create a successful design-build project similar to the University of Arkansas' studio. At the University, she plans to support future design-build studios both in Fayetteville and Little Rock, she said.

"We are fortunate to have someone equally interested in teaching, research and practice. Patricia brings with her an outstanding record in all three," said Laura Terry, assistant professor of architecture. Terry, with the help of Kucker, will continue a design-build studio at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock next summer. Together, the two hope to make this studio more interactive, combining engineers, contractors and architects.

"Architecture can never be in a situation where it's not collaborative," Kucker said. Instead student and practicing architects must continually ask themselves, "How do you embrace what's established and better it?"

Dean Shannon says that's exactly what Kucker has set out to do: embrace superb pedagogy already intact and foster improvements and change.

"My guess is that because of Ms. Kucker's strengths and success in teaching, she will be empathetic to the needs of faculty and students," Shannon said. "She has a great track record and comes with a finely tuned pedagogy and expectations for continuing and improving structure."

Professor Marlon Blackwell describes Kucker as the right department head at the right time; a department head who will help the program evolve, while affording the faculty and students opportunities to grow.

"The department of architecture is one of the best kept secrets in the country in terms of architecture schools," Blackwell said. "With Patricia at the helm, it won't be a secret much longer."