Steven Fong, dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, announced last week his plans to resign.

Fong, who has been dean since 2005, said he is leaving Kent State at the end of this semester to focus on professional practice and pursue different opportunities in Toronto and other parts of the world.

“I quite simply think that, personally, I was lucky enough to have good opportunities that came up, and I feel I can’t pass them up,” Fong said. “I think the dean position here is also a good opportunity. In my own situation, I’ve had some great luck, and I’m moving on.”

As the dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Fong has most notably established the new Bachelor of Arts in architecture, planned for the new digital lab in Taylor Hall and established the CAED graduate program in Cleveland.

Fong said he will miss the people and challenges that were presented to him as the dean.

“I’m a little bit saddened because there are initiatives that I would like to have seen become fully developed,” he said. “I’ve appreciated having great colleagues at the university, within this college and in Cleveland.”

Fong will relocate to Toronto in January 2008, however, he will still keep in contact with faculty and students at Kent State.

“I will be available for advising over the next few months as the transition happens,” he said. “That is a channel that will be kept open.”

Discussions have begun about an interim dean and the search for a successor.

Contact College of the Arts and College of Architecture and Environmental Design

reporter Sam Twarek at [email protected].