The College of Design at the University of Kentucky welcomes Jeff Fugate as the acting Associate Dean for Administration. He will assist Dean Mitzi Vernon in special projects, including the launch of the Master of Science in Urban and Environmental Design (MUED) program and the Reynolds Building Renovation + Redesign Project, which is part of the UK Capital Campaign.

Fugate is a seasoned city planner, with experience in both rural and urban communities. His diverse experience includes community development, affordable housing, historic preservation, and impact investing. Fugate lead the Lexington Downtown Development Authority between 2012 and 2017, where he initiated key economic development projects including the Old Fayette Courthouse renovation, 21c Museum Hotel, and the Town Branch Commons park system.

“Jeff’s experience with urban planning projects is a key asset to the College as we move forward with the MUED program and the reimagining of the Reynolds Building as the new home of the College of Design,” said Dean Vernon. “He understands both the challenges and significance of the impact this project will have not only for the UK community but the city of Lexington.”

Fugate has a bachelor’s in geography from the University of Kentucky, where he was also a Gaines Fellow, and earned dual master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in City Planning and Architectural Studies.

The vision of the UK College of Design: At the intersection of who we were, who we are and where we’re going is a common denominator: a deliberate focus on design and its impact, rural to urban and local to global. The origin is here, in Lexington, at this place of pedagogy, legacy and invention. Our vision is bold: new facility, new programs, new partners, new identity, all infused with Kentucky’s indigenous spirit and its imprint on our unfolding story.