Marci Reed
Courtesy AIA Marci Reed

The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the AIA, announced the appointment of Marci Reed as its new executive director today. Reed will begin her role on Oct. 2.

“We couldn’t be more confident in the skills that Marci brings to the Architects Foundation,” said the Architects Foundation board chair, Jeffery Potter, FAIA, in a press release. “She also brings creativity and proven leadership, so I’m excited for the Foundation’s future in expanding the role it plays in improving the profession.”

Most recently Reed served as the chief officer of development and communications at Atlanta-based Southface Energy Institute, a sustainable development and green building advocacy nonprofit. Reed has also served as executive director of AIA Georgia, AIA Atlanta, and the Architecture Foundation of Georgia. Reed is a graduate of Georgia State University.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Architects Foundation at this exciting moment,” Reed said in the release. “After last year’s generous gift to the Foundation of $1 million from [the] AIA, we are able to expand the Diversity Advancement Scholarship program for 2018-2019 and give more students the chance to pursue a successful career in architecture. At the same time, we will look to enhance our preservation efforts and pursue additional programming areas for the future.”

Reed replaces Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, who served as executive director of the Architects Foundation from February 2014 until April 2016.