Kulper, who is set to depart in July, arrived at the Bartlett as director in September 2022 in the aftermath of a ‘shocking’ report, which uncovered bullying, sexual misconduct, racism and a ‘toxic culture spanning decades’ at the famous London school.
Earlier today, UCL informed staff that Kulper would be leaving at the end of the current academic year.
In an email sent to her colleagues and seen by the AJ, Bartlett dean Jacqui Glass thanked Kulper for her commitment to ‘embedding cultural change at the the school’.
It went on to note her role in ‘leading the school’s overall approach to the forthcoming ARB-mandated and far-reaching changes to architectural education’. The email concluded: ‘I hope there will be many opportunities over the coming months for us to thank Amy for her service and wish her every success for her future endeavours.’
Speaking about Kulper’s appointment in 2022, Christoph Lindner, the then dean of The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment and chair of the selection committee, described her as ‘an inspirational voice for architectural education internationally’.
He added: ‘She has a driving passion for the transformative power of equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education, alongside extensive and nuanced knowledge and experience in the field of architecture, bridging practice, design, history and theory.’
The university began its hunt for a new director in late 2021 as an investigation started into the ‘culture and behaviours’ at the architecture school, following multiple allegations of bullying made by former students – some of which included claims of sex or race-based discrimination.
Kulper’s appointment was announced in March 2022 just months before the Bartlett published the findings of an investigation, which identified ‘a culture of unacceptable behaviour dating back several years’ and which contained ‘frank and shocking testimonies from former and current students and staff, including allegations of bullying, harassment, racism and sexual misconduct’ (see Bartlett chiefs: Report makes for painful reading – this behaviour must stop now).
In response to the report, which was compiled by consultancy Howlett Brown, a number of staff were removed from student-facing and administrative duties pending investigations and UCL apologised ‘unreservedly to everyone who has experienced unacceptable behaviour during their time at the school’.
Kulper, the former head of architecture at Rhode Island School of Design, came in as the permanent replacement for Bob Sheil, who had been director in 2014 for a four-year period and was later handed a four-year extension in 2018.
The UCL and Kulper have been contacted for comment.