Jhennifer A. Amundson, Ph.D., holds two inaugural positions at Belmont: Dean of the College of Architecture, Art, and Design and Chair of the Department of Architecture. Prior to joining Belmont in 2019, she served as Associate Provost of Faculty, Dean of the School of Art, Design, and Architecture, and Professor of Architecture at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois.

Dr. Amundson completed her doctoral studies at the University of Delaware after receiving the M.Arch. and B.S.A.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As a former architect, she studies architectural history with a particular interest in 19th-century style, theory and technology, the history of the profession of architecture, and the education of architects. Supported by grants and fellowships from such institutions as the National Endowment for the Humanities, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Capitol Historical Society, Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Graham Foundation and Winterthur Museum, she has published extensively, especially in connection with the topic of her dissertation and first book publication, Thomas U. Walter. Her recent research focuses on the architectural and social histories of maternity hospitals in the United States and her broader interests include the science of learning, distance education and digital humanities.

In addition to her general responsibilities as Dean, Dr. Amundson is developing the curriculum for Belmont’s new programs in architecture, with special focus on the five-year B.Arch.., for which Belmont will seek accreditation by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Dr. Amundson’s teaching responsibilities as a Professor of Architecture will include the freshman Introduction to Architecture and Senior Capstone courses, as well as coursework in the history and theory of architecture.