Washington, D.C. – March 15, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has appointed 13 individuals to participate on the 2012 Diversity Council. The AIA believes that diversity is a cultural ethos—a way of thinking or acting that fosters inclusion, enhancing AIA membership, the profession, and the quality of life in our communities. Embracing this culture of diversity, all programs and initiatives of the AIA and its members shall reflect the society that we serve, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, religious belief, geographic location or practice.
The 2012 Diversity Council will be chaired by Wendy Ornelas, FAIA, 2012-2014 Regional Director for AIA Central States and associate dean and professor at the college of architecture, planning and design at Kansas State University; and Miguel del Rio, AIA, Past President of the AIA Puerto Rico Chapter.
2012 Diversity Council members include:
• John Padilla, AIA (Ex Officio), 2011-12 AIA Vice President and Western Mountain Region Director
• Gabriel Durand-Hollis, FAIA, 2012-2013 AIA Treasurer
• Tamarah Begay, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, of the American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers Board of Directors (AICAE)
• Melissa Daniel, Assoc. AIA, Treasurer for DCNOMA
• Donna deJongh, AIA, CSI, NCARB, President of the Virgin Islands Chapter of the AIA
• Carmen Pérez García, Hon. AIA, Executive Director for the Lower Rio Grande Valley AIA
• Valerie Hassett, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP bd+c, Studio of Valerie Hassett
• Jaki Jefferson, Manager of Diversity and Workforce Inclusion at HOK
• Judson Kline, FAIA, LEED AP, 2012 AIA Ohio President
• Brian McAlexander, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, former AIA Ohio Valley Region Associate Director
• Joyce Raspa-Gore, AIA, Esq., Past President of the Architects League of Northern New Jersey
• Curtis Sartor, Jr., PhD, Min. Assoc. AIA, NOMA, Dean of the School of Art, Design & Architecture at Judson University
• Amy Slattery, AIA, 2011 AIA Young Architects Award recipient and Associate at BNIM
The Council recently met at the Center for Architecture in Austin, TX, for its strategic planning meeting and set three focus areas for 2012: Multiculturalism, Pipeline Development, and Women in Architecture.
The Council will also be sponsoring the following events during the 2012 AIA National Convention and Design Exhibition in Washington, DC, May 17 – 19, 2012.
• TH404 Shadow an Architect Program Volunteer Mentor Orientation
• EV203 Women in Architecture Dinner
• EV304 Shadow an Architect Program
• FR403 Working with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to Expand Your Architecture Practice
• EV319 LGBT Reception
• SA201 Connecting Diversity and Design: Award-Winning Diversity Strategies and How You Can Implement Them
• EV405 Multicultural Fellows & Whitney M. Young Jr. Award Reception
• EV406 Celebrating Culture and Diversity in Architecture
For more information about diversity and inclusion at the AIA: www.aia.org/diversity.
For more information about the AIA national convention: www.aia.org/convention.
About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.
Contact:
Matt Tinder
202-626-7462
http://twitter.com/AIA_Media
