Jules Bruck, a nationally recognized leader in landscape architecture and a pioneer in nature‑based coastal resilience, has been named dean of the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design, effective July 1.

Bruck currently serves as director of the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, and as chair and professor in the department of landscape architecture, at the University of Florida. She brings to UGA a distinguished record of academic leadership, high‑impact research and a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

“Dr. Bruck’s visionary approach to resilient design and her proven ability to bridge academic innovation with real‑world challenges make her the ideal leader for the College of Environment and Design,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Her expertise will further elevate the college’s national reputation for excellence in design, preservation and planning.”

A registered landscape architect, Bruck was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2024, one of the profession’s highest honors.

Her research has attracted support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This work includes a $9.4 million project to develop shellfish‑based living shorelines to enhance coastal defense and resilience, an approach with direct relevance to coastal communities in Georgia and beyond.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Bruck to the University of Georgia as the next dean of the College of Environment and Design,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to leading initiatives that closely align with UGA’s land-grant and sea-grant mission, and I am excited to see her further elevate those efforts in this new role.”

Before her tenure at the University of Florida, Bruck was the founding director of the landscape architecture program at the University of Delaware, which she established in 2016. While at Delaware, she launched the Coastal Resilience Design Studio, an initiative that integrates interdisciplinary internships with community‑driven design to develop resilience strategies for coastal regions. The CRDS has received national recognition for informing local land-use policy and driving nearly $10 million in infrastructure investment.

“Throughout my career I have pursued interdisciplinary collaborations and have been inspired by the lessons learned working alongside others to build programs with lasting impact,” Bruck said. “I look forward to applying those experiences to advance success at the University of Georgia.”

Bruck teaches broadly across the landscape architecture curriculum, with a focus on design foundations, ecological planting design and the integration of creativity and design thinking. Recognized by Design Intelligence as one of the “Most Admired Educators” in her field, she has successfully established new degree programs and fellowships that expand experiential learning opportunities and advance student career pathways.

Her leadership has been recognized through her selection as a University of Florida Fellow in the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium’s Academic Leadership Development Program for 2025-26.

Bruck earned her doctorate in agricultural education from Texas A&M University. She also holds a master’s degree in horticulture and a bachelor’s degree in landscape contracting from Penn State University.