New departmental chairs

As LAU’s fall term kicks off, two professors settle into their new positions as department chairs: Dr. Yasmine Taan in the Department of Design and newcomer Dr. José Manuel Madrigal in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design. Alongside Dr. Rached Bohsali, who heads the Department of Fine Arts and Foundation Studies, they make up the team that will supervise important academic developments at the school this year.

Taan might be said to be something of an LAU veteran: She started teaching in 1994 and later on helped to shape the university’s graphic design department.

Taan will oversee some exciting changes, beginning with the implementation of LAU’s new fashion design program. She’s looking forward to “witnessing the first trendsetters develop their creative skills in putting together ready-to-wear collections.” Taan will also move forward an application for U.S. accreditation for LAU’s graphic design program (NASAD). She will also help launch master’s programs in digital media and design entrepreneurship, giving students a kick start to get into the sometimes-intimidating world of art direction and design.

Madrigal, hailing from Spain, brings his wealth of experience to LAU’s Department of Architecture and Interior Design, after almost twenty years working at various European institutions. He’s written and contributed to more than twenty books in the architectural field and helped establish the first Ph.D. program in quality of design in various European universities.

Madrigal is not only a scholar, but has excelled as a practicing architect, coordinating the master plan for the ancient Spanish city Badajoz. Within his department speech, he outlined his vision to move forward while taking from the department’s past. “You have your DNA and we are obliged to reflect on it and look for the genetic problems to solve together,” he said. He will oversee the Bachelor of Architecture’s process of accreditation by The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).