Alum appointed interim architecture faculty at Cranbrook Academy of Art

September 14, 2025

BY Shyla Krishnappa

Tulane alumna Gina Reichert (M.Arch '97) has been appointed by Cranbrook Academy of Art as an interim faculty for the Academy’s 2025–2026 academic year. She joins the faculty with fellow distinguished architect Elise DeChard.

DeChard and Reichert will jointly lead the Architecture program, bringing a diverse range of experience, deep community ties, and a shared commitment to innovation and social engagement.

Reichert is an artist and architectural designer whose practice centers on self-initiated projects in her Detroit neighborhood, transforming overlooked spaces through resourceful design. She holds M.Arch degrees from both Cranbrook and Tulane University and has worked with architecture firms and housing organizations across the U.S. She is the co-founder of Power House Productions, a nonprofit that supported contemporary artists through a network of project houses and public sites in Detroit. Her work has received national recognition and funding from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Creative Capital, the Kresge Foundation, and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Reichert currently teaches at the University of Michigan’s College of Architecture & Urban Planning and has also taught at the College for Creative Studies and Lawrence Technological University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Elise and Gina back to Cranbrook,” said Chris Whittey, Interim Director of Cranbrook Academy of Art. “As alumni and practicing professionals, they bring both expertise and a deep appreciation for Cranbrook’s distinctive studio culture. Their leadership will provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore architecture as a dynamic, socially engaged discipline.”