Campus News

Associate VP for facilities planning, University Architects named

Darden
Gwynne Darden

Gwynne Darden has been named associate vice president for facilities planning and University Architects in the Division of Finance and Administration.

Darden oversees both the development of the university’s physical campuses and planning in the Office of University Architects to ensure that construction projects are compatible with the university’s physical master plan. She also helps locate appropriate sites for project construction and oversees the development of project designs.

Darden, who joined UGA in 2001, graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, with a dual bachelor’s degree in architecture and history. She earned her master’s degree in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1996.

Darden worked in UGA’s Office of Facilities Planning as a senior project manager where she coordinated the design and construction of projects for the UGA Athletic Association. In 2013, Darden was promoted to assistant vice president for facilities planning and oversaw project budgets, designs and schedules. She also planned milestone reviews with the University System of Georgia’s Real Estate and Facility Office.

“Gwynne has served UGA with great distinction throughout her 16 years in the Office of University Architects. Her career at UGA has been marked by her deep commitment to collaborate effectively with clients and colleagues as well as with the architects and contractors who are retained to design and construct a broad array of facilities for the university,” said Ryan Nesbit, vice president for finance and administration. “I look forward to continuing our work together to advance the strategic priorities of the university.”

Darden said that her new role gives her more opportunities to work with campus leaders in both the preservation and expansion of UGA’s facilities.