Q+A
From AIA Leadership Summit 2026
At AIA Leadership Summit, held February 2026 in Washington, D.C., all candidates have the opportunity to share a few words on why they are running. Though engagement in the AIA has been just as much about listening for me, I hope you take a few moments to listen with me.
In a time when evolution, value, and belonging matter more than ever, the AIA has an opportunity to strengthen how we are an organization by its members, for its members - and beyond - for the change we create with our communities.
Every chapter faces unique daily realities. Yet, we are also navigating shared challenges - of value and public understanding, of redefining systems whether in climate or housing, of evolving practices in a changing world.
Engagement and connection are never abstract. They are local, lived, and powerful - and when connected, the impact becomes collective. It advances big initiatives, and meets challenges in our own backyards.
Join every Friday these next few weeks from my Friday desk! Whether in Dallas, Texas or wherever "desk" may be - we will dig into not just conversation but tangible and meaningful engagement and impact.
From Fridayโs Desk Series
From Mondayโs Desk
I have heard a few times the last few months - What does the AIA National Board of Directors do? What does it mean to be an At-Large Director? How can I, as a member or as someone in the industry, get involved?
๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป, ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐๐!
An AIA by and for its members - and the communities we work and serve in and with - is foundational. That includes not only work in areas of priority to our communities, clients, and build environment partners - but also work within our own organization and engagement.
For a few additional resources from some of the things shared, check out the following..
- Meet the Current Board (with links to bylaws and the Rules of the Board) - https://lnkd.in/gPc7nQG3
- AIA Governance Taskforce Work + Engagement - https://lnkd.in/gwHjEfej
- AIA Strategic Council 2025 Work (check out page 15!) -https://lnkd.in/gafnXR4i
From Candidate Speeches 2026
As a part of the candidacy process, every candidate has the opportunity to share their thoughts through a speech. Delegates [individuals who will vote on bylaws amendments, resolutions, and candidates for the Board of Directors at the Annual Business meeting in June] will receive these speeches, and access will be made public through the AIAโs website.
At the core of the Institute is not just the value our members translate to the communities we serve, but the value of an organization that serves professionals in all phases of their careers. From new graduate and licensure support to advancing the evolving business of architecture to collaborating across geographies -
I have seen when these efforts are supported and brought together. Awareness and engagement rises. Value isnโt just felt - it is seen. What one chapter or member has navigated becomes the resource another needs. The AIA is most impactful in connection - local in its roots, connected in its reach, collective in its impact.
Just as an organization by and for our members is core to the Institute - Health. Safety. Welfare are essential to professional practice. Yet these have also been an invitation..
To How we evolve how we practice
How we deepen how value of the profession is understood and engaged with
And how we expand belonging - so every architect can not only enter this profession, but lead and transform within it
These are areas where we can have the greatest future impact through a connected AIA that carries them forward.
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Local. Connected. Collective.
AIA | by its members, for its members and our communities.
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ข๐ด ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ต-๐๐ข๐ณ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ณ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ. ๐ฉ๐ต๐ต๐ฑ๐ด://๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ.๐ด๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ฉ๐ธ๐ฐ๐บ๐ฏ๐ช๐ค๐ป.๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ/๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฅ๐ข๐บ๐ด๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฌ