Rate My Professor Dennis Chiessa

Dennis Chiessa is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Graduate Architecture Program Director in the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington's College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs. Joining the faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2019, he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure effective September 1, 2025. A licensed architect holding AIA and NCARB credentials, Chiessa integrates his professional practice with research and teaching to examine the reciprocal impact of design and communities. His scholarship centers on the effects of urban development on underrepresented communities in Fort Worth, with a commitment to celebrating Latino contributions to design and advocating for social equity and diversity in architecture and planning. He leads research projects addressing these issues and fosters innovative approaches that ensure architecture is both functional and socially responsible.

In his teaching, Chiessa leads architecture design studios, encouraging students to incorporate diverse perspectives. His creative practice has resulted in exhibitions at the Amarillo Museum of Art, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and the Venezia Architecture Biennale. Notable among these is the 2021 'The House of Asterion' exhibition at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, which presented seven single-family houses through drawings, photographs, and models, challenging trends toward larger homes amid declining occupancy rates and drawing inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges. Chiessa has earned significant recognition, including the 2023 Architectural Educator Award from AIA Dallas, the 2021 Texas Society of Architects Associate Member of the Year award, and the 2020 AIA Fort Worth President's Award for his chapter support and organization of exhibits. Since 2017, he has chaired the Latinos in Architecture Fort Worth Chapter, served as its AIA Fort Worth Blueprint for Better Communities Champion in 2018, and acts as Faculty Advisor for the UTA student chapter, promoting community engagement and professional growth in the field.