A Thank You to Dean Schwartz

Driven is the word that comes to mind for many when thinking of Kenneth Schwartz, FAIA during his 10 years as dean of the Tulane School of Architecture.

Driven to build opportunity for the entire school community. Driven to bring fundraising to new heights, surpassing the school’s entire history of fundraising during his term. Driven to secure national recognition and expand local impact.

We could go on, but the public milestones are only one side of the story. Within Richardson Memorial Hall, Dean Schwartz was a persistent force pushing people and programs to think bigger and be better.

In early May, we had the chance to thank, and kindly tease, Dean Schwartz at a reception hosted by Tulane President Mike Fitts and Provost Robin Forman. Associate Dean Kentaro Tsubaki, AIA shared the reflections below on behalf of the faculty and staff.

“Here is the question. What kind of M.O. can you extrapolate from a dean who writes 4 a.m. work emails, runs a full marathon, competes in downhill skiing and flies an airplane? A quintessentially driven person who takes calculated risks and consistently executes exceedingly difficult tasks with commitment and care, and here is the kicker, who expects others to do the same.

Many of Ken’s accomplishments are tied to what generally referred to as Type A personality. One of the key attributes is time management.

Ken is extremely organized and efficient. Always 3-4 steps ahead, impatiently waiting for us mere mortals to catch up. When it comes to business, he expects everyone

to perform at his level. It is quite challenging to have a boss who works harder than you do. I know this first hand.

What doesn’t quite fit within the Type A mold is that Ken has always been exceedingly generous with his time and effort when it comes to mentoring. This is particularly true for those willing to step up when needed, take some risks, and work hard for the greater good of the school and beyond.

Ken has always been extraordinarily patient, providing the time and space we need to grow into our full potential. For that, we are eternally grateful. ”

To Ken, thank you. We wouldn’t be here without you.

- The Tulane School of Architecture community

KENNETH A. SCHWARTZ SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWED FUND

The new Kenneth A. Schwartz Scholarship Endowed Fund, formed by the Tulane School of Architecture Advisory Board, creates a lasting legacy of Schwartz’s service to the school. The effort was spearheaded by Marcel Wisznia (A ’73), Sonny Shields (A ’74), Kay Favrot and John Williams (A ’78).

“We know how passionate Ken is about architectural education, so creating a scholarship endowment seemed to be a natural,” said Wisznia. “The response from our current board members, and past chairs of the board during the dean’s tenure, was heartwarming.”

The group raised more than $144,000 for an endowed fund that will support academic scholarships for graduate students.