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Rich Mitchell

Education

  • MBA, Seattle University
  • Bachelor of Architecture, University of Oregon

About Rich

Rich Mitchell joined Mackenzie as a project architect in 1989. He believes project success is rooted in collaboration and an integrated approach wherein all disciplines work in concert to achieve creative, efficient design solutions. As an early adopter of sustainability rating systems, he is a certified Green Globes Assessor from the Green Building Initiative and has led workshops to educate and mentor professionals towards accreditation. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Green Building Initiative from 2017-2018 and continues his volunteer executive board service as Immediate Past Chair. Rich is also active in community outreach and public speaking on the merits of equitable, diverse, inclusive, and sustainable design at colleges and universities around the country, including several at NewSchool of Architecture and Design. 

Additional Information

  • Immediate Past Chair, Green Building Initiative Board of Directors (2019 – present)
  • Chair of the Board, Green Building Initiative Board of Directors (2017 – 2018)
  • American Institute of Architects, Portland Chapter Past President (2004 – 2005)
  • American Institute of Architects, Northwest Pacific Region Board Member (2003 – 2005)
  • American Institute of Architects Idaho Design Awards Judge (2016)
  • U.S. Green Building Council Member

Dario Miticocchio

Headshot of Dario

Education

  • Master of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Milano

About Dario

Originally trained as an architect, Dario Miticocchio likes to call himself a “Design Nomad”, always exploring new facets of the discipline, and has exercised this peculiar angle on design by working in many different professional environments. The restless curiosity that has fueled this journey has taken him across projects that involved architecture, apparel, interiors, services, products, and graphics, with incursions into marketing and ethnographies. He learned the ropes of creating remarkable designs from masters like Makio Hasuike, Stefano GIovannoni, and Guido Venturini, and has continued to deliver iconic and award-winning designs in the very different environment of Corporate America.

He joined NewSchool because the stimulating academic environment is perfect to keep his pursuit going, and is excited about helping establish the new design programs. To make sure he doesn’t lose touch with the professional world he stays engaged in real life projects as a consultant.

Tom Mulica

Thomas Mulica

About Thomas

Tom Mulica is an award winning licensed architect with diverse experience throughout the country including WA, TX, CA, KY and NM.  He believes the built world can and should provide joy and nurture that which makes us human.  He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington and a BA in Art History from Emory University.  His desire to pursue architecture stems from his Peace Corps service in Zimbabwe where he realized the power of the built world to affect positive change on daily life.  He has been active in both Habitat for Humanity and Architects without Borders- Seattle where he lead an interdisciplinary team to rethink the planning of the Rabour Village Project, Kenya and to design their vocational training center.  As principal and owner of Story Architecture and Design, his design passion lies at the interface between architectural history, contemporary living and the craft of construction.  

Education

Master of Architecture, University of Washington

Bachelor of Arts – Art History，Emory University

Professional Experience: 

Principal/Owner – Story Architecture and Design, Inc.  – 2016-Present 

Licenses/Registration: Licensed Architect, State of California 

Selected Publications and Recent Research: 

 “Craft, Community and Connections” presented at: 

 The Path to Sustainable Development: Sustainable Ocean Education, Management, and Green Energy Cities  National Museum of Marine Science & Technology -  Keelung, Taiwan.  2024 

 

 “Design Teaching: Project Based Learning in Studio”; part of a week-long seminar presented to Department of Architecture at University of Inner Mongolia, 2023  

Allen Mutchler

Education 

MBA, University of Arizona Global Campus 

Master of Arts, Teaching and Learning with Technology, University of Arizona Global Campus 

Bachelor of General Studies, Liberal Studies, Georgia College & State University 

About

Allen brings almost 20 years of experience working in higher education, mostly in the Registrar’s Office. He began working as an enrollment advisor in 2016 for Ashford University and transferred to the Registrar’s Office in 2007. In 2011, he took on the role of managing the Registrar’s Office for online students at the University of the Rockies and has been the registrar at NewSchool since 2015. He was awarded a Global Product Services Award for Contribution to Student Success in 2017.   

Victor Nacif

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A passion for Design and Creativity, Victor Nacif attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan USA.

His education continued through two summer internships at Ford Design, Ford Motor Company. He has also engaged in Executive programs at Stanford University in Business Leadership, Stanford, California, USA, as well as HEC Creative Leadership in Jouy-en-Josas, France.

Victor has lived and worked in 8 Countries and speaks fluent English, Spanish and French. His career spans 38 years in Automotive Design for Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën (now Stellantis), Ford Motor Company and Zimmer Automotive Corporation.

Victor and the NewSchool Design instructors apply the true meaning of Design, by instilling Human centered practices through interactions, systems and products to better our world. His continued dedication to helping a new generation of creatives in all the Design disciplines and cultures is what he considers his greatest achievement.

  • Design Chair at New School of Architecture and Design, San Diego, California, USA. vnacif@newschoolarch.edu
  • Partner, Industrial Design Tribe consultancy, with former graduates of NewSchool of Architecture and Design. theidtribe.co
  • Chief Creative Officer at brojure.com, and Partner at reiimagine.com and newhotelguide.com
  • Design Mentor at Intersection/The Design Academy, San Diego, California, USA

Dr. O’Brien

Headshot of O'Brien

About Dr. O’Brien

Gregory O’Brien is former President of International Technological University and Distinguished President Emeritus of Argosy University (2004-07). Before joining Argosy, Dr. O’Brien served as Chancellor of the University of New Orleans for over 16 years (1987-2003), where he also taught psychology and public affairs. Previous positions include Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of South Florida, Provost of the University of Michigan-Flint and Dean of the School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Dr. O’Brien was the Director of the Human Services Design Laboratory at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, as well as an Associate in Psychiatry at the Laboratory of Community He earned his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in social psychology from Boston University.

Dr. O’Brien has consulted and published in areas of higher education, administration, change management, accreditation, for-profit education, organizational social psychology, inter-organizational relations, mental health and human services, international business and management, technology transfer, and research utilization. Dr. O’Brien served as Vice Chair and Member of the Board of Directors for the Council for Higher Education Accreditation from 2003 to 2009, and previously served as Chair of the Board of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. He was Chair of the NCAA Presidents Commission and President of The American College of Mental Health Administration. Dr. O’Brien served as Interim Superintendent of New Orleans Public Schools in 1999. Dr. O’Brien was inducted into Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 1999 and has received the US Navy’s Meritorious Service Award.

Currently, Dr. O’Brien leads The Higher Education Group, Inc., and consults with institutions of higher learning and educational systems in the US and abroad on issues of quality assurance, governance, accreditation, distance learning, economic development, and marketing. He has served on the Eligibility Committee and as an accreditation visiting team chair for the WASC Senior Commission since 2009. He has also chaired visiting teams for the Higher Learning Commission and SACS. He has lectured and consulted on quality assurance and accreditation in Croatia, China, India, and Malaysia.

Gregorio “Goyo” Ortiz

Headshot of Goyo
Associate Professor
Assistant Director of Architecture Programs
Education
  • Master of Urban Planning, UCLA
  • Bachelor of Architecture, Woodbury University

AboutGoyo Ortiz-Muñoz’s teaching philosophy centers on community-driven design and collaborative approaches to urban planning. His work explores the complex layers that make cities function, emphasizing solutions that foster equity and sustainability. 

Goyo brings extensive professional experience from both his own practice and leading architectural firms, specializing in urban design. Most recently, he served as Community Development Choreographer at Casa Familiar, a community-based organization in San Ysidro—a vibrant neighborhood on the U.S.-Mexico border. In this role, he navigated the intersection of local government and community stakeholders to advance affordable housing strategies, environmental initiatives, cultural spaces, and public infrastructure projects. 

A true border citizen, Goyo was born in Tijuana and grew up moving between Los Angeles and San Diego. His work reflects a deep understanding of the broader LA–SD–TJ region, with research interests in temporality, transformation, and adaptation within the built environment. He has contributed to architectural design and development projects across California and the Northeastern U.S. and has taught as an adjunct professor at multiple universities in the San Diego–Tijuana region. 

Currently, Goyo serves on several boards of community organizations dedicated to art, culture, and affordable housing advocacy.

Adam Phillips

Education

  • Master of Arts in Philosophy, Northern Illinois University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience, Oberlin College

About Adam

By engaging students in perennial and contemporary philosophical debates, I aim to help students apply philosophy’s key virtues — rigor, clarity, and wonder — to all aspects of their lives, personal and professional.

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