Founding principal of MPdL Studio, Monica Ponce de Leon became dean of the Princeton University School of Architecture in 2016, where she is also a professor. As dean and educator, Ponce de Leon has spent her career focused on diversifying the profession; linking research, pedagogy and practice; and increasing access to technology. From 2008 to 2015, she served as dean of Taubman College at the University of Michigan, and taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Design prior to that. She has been honored with the Cooper Hewitt’s National Design Award in architecture and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ academic award in architecture, and she was named a USA Target Fellow in Architecture and Design by United States Artists. In 2016, Ponce de Leon was inducted into the National Academy of Design.