Michael Zaretsky

Michael Zaretsky is an accomplished architect, educator, and administrator currently serving as the Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture in the School of Architecture and Environment at the University of Oregon's College of Design.13 He assumed this role on March 29, 2021, returning to his alma mater where he had previously earned his Master of Architecture degree in 1998.24

Professional Background

Prior to joining the University of Oregon, Zaretsky held several academic positions:

1. Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (2018-2021)2
2. Assistant and Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnati's School of Architecture and Interior Design (2006-2018)2
3. Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Curriculum at the University of Cincinnati (2016-2018)2

Research and Expertise

Zaretsky's work focuses on the intersection of design/build practices and community engagement in the built environment. His research interests include:

• Public interest design
• Academic design/build
• Culturally-informed community engagement
• Environmental sustainability in buildings

Notable Projects

1. Roche Health Center: Zaretsky has been the Director of Design for this project in rural Tanzania since 2008, which provides healthcare to up to 20,000 villagers.2

2. MetroLAB Community Design/Build program: He directed this initiative at the University of Cincinnati from 2011-2018, collaborating with non-profits on projects for under-represented communities.2

3. Future Cities; Livable Futures: An ongoing initiative exploring sustainable models for urban-watershed systems.2

Publications

Zaretsky has authored and co-authored several publications, including:

• "Precedents in Zero-Energy Design: Architecture and Passive Design in the 2007 Solar Decathlon" (Routledge Press, 2009)
• "New Directions in Sustainable Design" (co-authored with Dr. Adrian Parr, Routledge Press, 2010)2

As a licensed architect in California, Zaretsky brings a wealth of practical and academic experience to his role at the University of Oregon, where he continues to contribute to the fields of architecture, sustainability, and community-engaged design.