Florida Southern College Appoints Andrew Phillip Payne, Ph.D., as the Founding Dean and Professor of Architecture for the School of Architecture

Florida Southern College is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Phillip Payne, Ph.D., as the founding dean and professor of architecture for the School of Architecture on the historic Frank Lloyd Wright campus. 

Payne brings with him a distinguished career in teaching and academic administration, with expertise spanning architecture, construction management, interior design, campus planning, universal design, graphic design, and art. 

“I am very excited to take on the role of founding dean for the School of Architecture on the Frank Lloyd Wright campus at Florida Southern College and see great opportunities for innovative teaching and learning in a highly engaging setting,” said Payne. 

Set to open in fall 2025, the School of Architecture marks a significant milestone in the College's commitment to architectural education and preservation and offers exceptional opportunities for students to learn and excel in the field of architecture. Students will benefit from a unique blend of academic rigor, hands-on experience, and a deep appreciation for architectural heritage. With Florida Southern being home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, the campus will provide an unparalleled environment for immersive study, equipped with cutting-edge facilities, including design studios, fabrication labs, and a research center. 

“The newly formed School of Architecture will embrace the masterfully designed campus as a teaching laboratory, while also incorporating state-of-the-art technologies and practices. Together, the faculty and students will demonstrate the school’s vision and identity as design leaders in the built environment,” Payne added. 

Payne most recently served as dean and professor of architecture at Kennesaw State University College of Architecture and Construction Management from 2020-2025. Until 2019, Payne led the Department of Built Environment at Indiana State University, serving as chair and professor. Payne’s academic focus was interior architecture design courses while continuing his consultancy as principal of the design firm Studio GAP: Graphic Design, Architectural Research and Photography, where he specialized in campus planning and design, accessibility, universal design, and materiality. 

Prior to joining Indiana State University, Payne held the position of professor of architecture at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) teaching architecture design studios and support courses. Before Savannah, Payne was an assistant researcher with the Center for Universal Design at NC State University, where he conducted accessibility workshops, design reviews, and building evaluations. While at NC State University, Payne completed his Ph.D. in design, focusing on wayfinding by visually impaired pedestrians. Professor Payne has many years of professional experience in various architectural design firms in the southeast US and has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences and contributed to several written bodies of work. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Andrew Phillip Payne as the new dean of the School of Architecture at Florida Southern College. His leadership experience, commitment to student-centered architecture education, and a distinguished record of innovation and collaboration make him an extraordinary addition to our academic community at FSC,” said Dr. Tracey Tedder, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Florida Southern College. “As we continue to advance our mission of preparing students to shape the future with purpose and innovation, Dean Payne brings the expertise that will inspire students to achieve new heights. We are excited to welcome Dr. Payne and the extraordinary future of our School of Architecture at Florida Southern College." 

The School of Architecture will welcome its inaugural cohort of undergraduate architecture degree students this fall, with a graduate degree forthcoming.