The following is a press release from The American Institute of Architects announcing the 17 members of its inaugural Next to Lead program. AIA announced the pilot program in April 2021, aiming to increase diversity within its leadership.
The American Institute of Architects is supporting diverse future female leaders in the architecture profession by selecting 17 members to its Next to Lead inaugural program.
Next to Lead is the first program of its kind to support association leadership for ethnically diverse women aspiring to be leaders of the AIA. Candidates were selected by jurors from AIA’s Equity and the Future of Architecture Committee (EQFA) who conducted a blind review of applications and reference letters. This year’s inaugural Next to Lead cohort includes:
- Anna Barbour, AIA, Washington, D.C.
- Kuleya Bruce, Assoc. AIA, Springfield, Mo.
- Chelsea Davis, AIA, New York
- Libertad Lauren Harris, Assoc. AIA, Philadelphia
- Nicole Hilton, AIA, Atlanta
- Tanya Kataria, Assoc. AIA, Seattle
- Siobhan Klinkenberg, Assoc. AIA, Philadelphia
- Levitta Lawrence-Gathers, Assoc. AIA, East Orange, N.J.
- Whitney Lewis, Assoc. AIA, Seattle
- Brenna Martin-Shaffer, AIA, Pittsburgh
- Wendy Meguro, AIA, Honolulu
- Phuong Nguyen, Assoc. AIA, Omaha, Neb.
- Nasra Nimaga, AIA, New York
- Constance Owens, Assoc. AIA, Richmond, Va.
- Melanie Ray, AIA, Baltimore,
- Sophia Tarkhan, AIA, Atlanta
- Ellie Ziaie, Assoc. AIA, Minneapolis
Next to Lead is a two-phase program, launching Oct. 15, which will be followed by an online curriculum and monthly virtual sessions focusing on association leadership during 2022. In the second phase, participants will work on a collaborative project developed with a local or state component or a knowledge-based group within the AIA.
The program was created as a result of a member driven resolution sponsored by AIA Georgia in 2018, which was intended to ensure AIA is developing education, systems, and processes that are inclusive for the short and long term. AIA is working to create a pathway to local, state, and national leadership through experiential learning on association leadership, management, knowledge, and experience.
Visit AIA’s website to learn more about its steps to advance equity within the membership and architecture profession.