In July 2016, Berke became the first woman dean of the School of Architecture at Yale. She was appointed to a second five-year term earlier this year. Before being named dean, Berke had been an adjunct professor of architecture at Yale since 1987. She is the founder of the design firm Deborah Berke Partners in New York.
Awarded by the American Humor Studies Association, the Jack Rosenbalm Prize for American Humor is given for the best article on American humor by a pre-tenure scholar, graduate student, adjunct professor, or independent scholar published in a peer-reviewed academic journal or book in 2018 or 2019.