Alumna appointed Chair of Architecture and Interior Design at Miami University of Ohio

AUGUSt 12, 2025

BY Shyla Krishnappa

Liz Martin-Malikian (A'87) has been appointed Chair of the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at Miami University of Ohio. In a recent interview with Metropolis, Martin-Malikian outlined an ambitious academic agenda focused on integrating decarbonization, systems thinking, environmental justice, and Indigenous knowledge into core design curricula. Her approach emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, site-based research, and faculty development to create a curriculum that reflects the urgent demands of climate-responsive design.

Martin-Malikian says she was drawn to Miami University in part because of its active acknowledgment of Indigenous lands and connection to the Miami Nation. “Design doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens in a place, with its history,” she said.

In her new role, she plans to transform Miami’s program into a “living laboratory” where students tackle real-world challenges like climate resilience, affordable housing, and land stewardship through immersive, hands-on projects. Her leadership promises to shape the next generation of architects into not just skilled designers, but ethical creative leaders prepared to meet the environmental and social demands of the profession.

For a detailed account of her educational vision, see: https://metropolismag.com/viewpoints/liz-martin-malikian-is-decarbonizing-the-curriculum/