Michael Graves College Marks 10 Years of Design, Collaboration and Global Impact

Ten years after its founding, Michael Graves College at Kean University has grown into a vibrant center for architecture and design, serving more than 900 students annually and building a reputation that extends well beyond New Jersey.

The College was created to bring together Kean’s architecture and design programs under the philosophy of renowned architect Michael Graves, whose work emphasized that design should serve the public and improve everyday life.

“Michael Graves College was founded on the belief that design matters,” said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “Architecture shapes how we live, how we move through the world and how we feel in it. Beauty and function belong to everyone.”

For David Mohney, dean of Michael Graves College, that vision has taken shape through both the College’s academic programs and the culture students have built together.

“When you launch something new, you never quite know what the culture will become,” Mohney said. “What has been most meaningful is the culture our students have created. They take care of one another. They have built a space that is collaborative, ambitious and deeply supportive. That culture is one of our greatest accomplishments.”

That collaborative spirit is embedded in how students learn. The College follows a studio-based model that emphasizes hands-on experience and real-world problem solving, with projects that often extend beyond the classroom and across borders.

Students explore those ideas through programs in the Robert Busch School of Design, which includes advertising, graphic design, industrial design and interior design, as well as the School of Public Architecture. Opportunities to learn and collaborate also extend globally through the Michael Graves School of Architecture at Wenzhou-Kean University in China, where students work across cultures and design traditions.

“The 10th anniversary of Michael Graves College is a wonderfully significant milestone,” said Rose Gonnella, associate dean of Michael Graves College. “I am immensely proud of the joint efforts of all our dedicated faculty, administrators and staff whose commitment and passion have transformed the College into a hub of creativity and innovation. A special thanks to the students, whose enthusiasm and success make all the hard work worthwhile.”

Faculty consistently earn recognition for their contributions to the field. Distinguished Professor Robin Landa was inducted into the New Jersey Ad Club’s 2025 Advertising Hall of Fame for her work in branding, advertising and creative strategy, and received the Steven Heller Prize for Cultural Commentary from the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

In 2025, Assistant Professor Camille Sherrod, Adjunct Professor Samuel Golini, Lecturer Nina Rappaport and Visiting Professor Aaron Betsky also brought that work to a global stage, participating in the Venice Biennale, one of the world’s most prominent exhibitions of architecture and design.

Students are earning recognition as well. Several have been named GDUSA Students to Watch, a national honor that highlights top design students across the United States, while others continue to receive regional and national awards in design and architecture.

Alumni of Michael Graves College are working across the creative industries, earning honors that include Clio and Cannes Lions awards. Their work has appeared in national advertising campaigns, including several Super Bowl commercials, and they have built careers at companies and agencies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, McCann Worldgroup, Ogilvy and Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness.

As the field evolves, the College is preparing students for what comes next. New courses reflect changes in design and technology, including the AI and Design course in the Robert Busch School of Design, which explores how artificial intelligence is used for prototyping, visual storytelling and digital content creation.

For Mohney, the mission of the College remains rooted in expanding opportunities for students.

“What I value about being at Kean is the opportunity to succeed at a higher level and to think ambitiously,” Mohney said. “We are not only serving New Jersey. We are connecting globally. More importantly, we are opening doors for students who may not have previously had access to architecture and design education. That is meaningful work.”