Ellen Cathey

BA, Indiana University;
MArch, University of Tennessee

Associate Dean of Students

Ellen is Associate Dean of Students & Director of Career Services for the School of Architecture. As Associate Dean, she provides non-academic advising for undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines within the school. As Director of Career Services, Ellen provides career counseling for individuals, serves as the school’s Intern Development Program (IDP) Educator Coordinator, and maintains a host of online career resources. She also organizes the annual Career Forum, manages on-site interviews for firms and organizations recruiting students, and coordinates the school’s long-running Extern placement program. In addition, Ellen oversees the study abroad programs, coordinating all aspects of the school’s programs for students traveling and studying overseas.

Following her personal interest in the relationship between public service and design, Ellen created the school’s Public Service Fellowship Program in 2005. She continues to run and manage this successful program that places students with local design and environment-related nonprofit organizations.

Beyond her role at UVA, Ellen’s community and professional service include serving on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central Virginia Board of Directors, and previously, serving on the Board of Directors and as Associate Editor of ArchVoices, a weekly electronic newsletter focused on architectural education, internship, and licensure. Additionally, she served as Associate Editor of the publication Architectural Internship: Everybody’s Issue, as a committee member of the AIA Educator/Practitioner Network (EPN), and as juror for the AIAS National Honor Awards.

Before coming to UVA, Ellen worked as Director of Education for the AIA national component in Washington, DC, where she developed thirteen new national public policies on architecture education with the AIA Board Education Committee. As the Emerging Professionals Director, she managed AIA programs and committees including the National Associates Committee and Young Architects Forum. Prior to joining the AIA staff, Ellen designed publications and authored international design competition programs for the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), in addition to serving as editor of ACSA News.

Originally from Tennessee, Ellen earned her Master of Architecture from the University of Tennessee, where she served as editor of the student publication, University of Tennessee Journal of Architecture. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Certificate in Business Studies from Indiana University. She is a Registered Architect, and with her husband maintains a private custom residential design practice.