Dawn Jourdan

Dr. Dawn Jourdan is Dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland, where she leads an interdisciplinary community of architects, planners, preservationists, and real estate developers committed to shaping more just, vibrant, and sustainable places.

Trained as both a lawyer and an urban planner, Dr. Jourdan holds a J.D. and a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning. This dual expertise uniquely positions her at the intersection of law, policy, and the built environment. Her scholarship and teaching have established her as a national thought leader in constitutional law and land use, with a distinctive specialization in the regulation of signs and wayfinding. She has written extensively on how the First Amendment informs local governments’ ability to regulate signs, balancing free expression with community character, safety, and economic vitality.

As dean, Dr. Jourdan champions a vision for the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation that leverages design, planning, preservation, and development to inspire positive change—preparing the next generation of professionals to design and steward places where people and communities thrive.

Research Interests:

• Land use law
• Participatory planning
• Historic preservation Regulation