Michael J. Stepner, FAIA, FAICP

Michael J. Stepner is a nationally respected architect, urban planner, and educator whose work has shaped San Diego’s civic and cultural landscape for more than five decades. In 2024, he received the Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects, San Diego, recognizing his enduring professional excellence and community impact.

Michael began his San Diego career with the City’s Planning Department and later served as City Architect and Assistant Planning Director. During his 27-year public service tenure, he played key roles in major civic initiatives including the Centre City Community Plan, the revitalization of the Gaslamp Quarter, and the transformation of the former Naval Training Center into Liberty Station. Following his public service, he founded a consulting practice advising cities nationally and internationally and served as Dean of the NewSchool of Architecture & Design, where he continues to teach architecture and urban design.

A Fellow of both the American Institute of Architects and the American Institute of Certified Planners, Michael has also taught at UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and the University of San Diego, and serves on the faculty of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He has dedicated decades of volunteer leadership to Balboa Park and civic design initiatives throughout San Diego, reflecting a deep commitment to public space, cultural institutions, and community engagement.