Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) Department Professor James Mitchell, AIA has been appointed to the position of Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs for the College of Engineering.
Mitchell has been at Drexel since 1988, where he started as an associate professor in the CAEE Department. He developed the Architectural Engineering program and has been the program director since its inception. Mitchell teaches architectural engineering courses as well as courses specific to engineering design and digital modeling. He also advises many undergraduate seniors on innovative and often award-winning senior design projects. Mitchell was appointed to full Professor in 2014 and most recently has led the charge to introduce both Architectural Engineering Masters and PhD programs into the CAEE Department, which were officially launched in Fall 2014. He is also the faculty representative for the student chapter of the Drexel University Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) and in 2014 Mitchell and AEI student representatives hosted the annual AEI National Student Conference where students from across the country gathered to discuss recent advancements in the architectural engineering industry.
From 2000 to 2003, Mitchell was the founder and co-director of the Faculty Development Center (currently, the Drexel Center for Academic Excellence). Here he was responsible for overseeing the development of programs focused on improving the teaching and learning capacities of faculty. From 1992 to 1995 he served as an Associate Dean in the College where he was responsible for college recruitment, undergraduate curriculum, academic standing, honors, and student societies. Mitchell notes, “There have been great improvements in technology and advising since I last held the position. I’m delighted to be working with a team that serves all the college’s students, making connections to the great array of university resources.”
Prior to Drexel, Mitchell was the founder of two architectural firms: James E. Mitchell, A.I.A. (1979-81) and Jordan, Mitchell, Inc. (1981-88). He is an active member of many professional associations related to his field and lives in Center City, Philadelphia with his wife Catherine, a painter, teacher and psychotherapist.