Francine Monaco has been named chair of the Department of Interior Design within Pratt Institute’s School of Design. Monaco has been a dedicated faculty member of the Pratt Institute community for twenty-five years, alongside a thriving professional practice as an architect and designer. She will assume the role on July 1, 2026, succeeding David Foley, who is stepping down after seven years of committed stewardship.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Francine Monaco as the next Chairperson of the Interior Design Department,” said Dean of the School of Design Anita Cooney. “Her immense sense of purpose will serve the department well as we navigate the real challenges facing higher education today. With a distinguished professional career and a long record of successful teaching, I am confident that Francine will bring exceptional leadership to this role.”
Since first joining Pratt’s faculty in 2000 (first as a visiting professor, and shortly thereafter as an adjunct associate professor), Monaco developed a new studio structure for the undergraduate program; formulated an Undergraduate Curriculum Coordination Committee to evaluate existing course structure and offer improvements; co-created and taught the first Interdisciplinary Advanced Design Studio; and developed a number of unique courses, exhibitions, and external collaborations, including with Cotton Inc., Carnegie Fabrics, Fabric Image NY(Semios), and United Legwear.
Her approach to teaching is student-centered and process-driven, prioritizing inquiry, experimentation, and authorship. She has consistently shown her commitment to student growth through mentorship, partnerships with industry leaders, and the introduction of students to professional networks, reinforcing equity, visibility, and opportunity. Her engagement as a faculty member has included taking on additional responsibilities to foster a vibrant design community and expand the presence of interior design education.
In addition to her role as an educator, Monaco is a founding partner of D’Aquino Monaco, a multidisciplinary studio working across interior design, architecture, and decoration for both residential and commercial properties. Her practice reflects a sustained engagement with the dialogue between structure and interior experience, guided by an integrative and collaborative approach. She brings a refined sensitivity to material, sequence, and composition, along with a deep belief that design has the capacity not only to shape space, but to influence how people engage with the world.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to guide the Interior Design Department into its next chapter,” said Monaco. “As Chair, I will see my role as both steward and advocate, aligning faculty excellence, student experience, and institutional priorities. A thriving department depends on inclusive governance, transparent decision-making, and a culture in which faculty and students alike can flourish. At a moment when interior design education must contend with urgent issues—equity and access, climate responsibility, adaptive reuse, and the implications of AI—I will endeavor to lead with insight, imagination, and care.”
Monaco has been recognized for her achievements through numerous industry honors, including her induction into the Interior Design Hall of Fame. She has spoken on panels for Harvard University, NY Build, and FDC, and her work has been featured extensively in periodicals and books. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture in Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning from the University of Cincinnati.