THOMAS D. KEARNS, AIA, LEED AP, is a principal and chairman of the board of the national architecture and planning firm of Shepley Bulfinch. He is a leader in the firm’s education practice, with designs that foster community, strengthen identity, and advance the mission of his clients. Current and recent clients include Harvard Business School, Duke University and Duke Law School, Marquette, Xavier, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Denver, whose law school was the first in the US to received LEED Gold certification. He also worked with the University of Denver to develop the institution’s sustainability position paper. Tom presents widely to organizations including SCUP, the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU); and the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (APPA). He has published widely, and serves on the editorial board of College Planning & Management magazine. Tom joined Shepley Bulfinch in 1986 and became a Principal in 2001. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2004 and was elected chairman in 2007. He received his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Architecture degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.