Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA
2023 President

Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, is a senior project manager/senior associate at Perkins&Will. As an architect, her portfolio includes work for a wide range of clients. Her most recent projects focus on K-12 and higher education learning environments; she is drawn to them for their ability to change students’ lives and prepare them for the future.

Emily has demonstrated continued and significant service to AIA, including leading the national equity, diversity, and inclusion conversation and serving as the 2014 president of the Boston Society of Architects/AIA. As a former chair of AIA’s Equity in Architecture Commission, she was instrumental in creating the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice. She will use her national platform to advance equity and climate action and effect widespread positive change in the industry.

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Kimberly N. Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC
2023 First Vice President

Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, is a licensed architect and frequent speaker on the topic of architecture, leadership, diversity, sustainability, and the future of cities. In her 2019-2020 term as national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), she worked to increase opportunities for women and people of color to gain more equitable access to the building professions. She also more than doubled the organization’s membership and significantly raised NOMA’s profile.

Kimberly’s career aspirations are rooted in her upbringing in Detroit, where she was initially driven to utilize architecture as a tool to revitalize cities. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University and her Master of Public Administration at Harvard University. Her professional experience has spanned architecture to government and teaching to real estate development. Kimberly is currently the director of strategic relationships and a principal with HOK, a leading global design firm. She co-founded the SEED Network in 2005 and has been a LEED-accredited professional since 2007. In 2022, Kimberly was elected to the Cornell University Board of Trustees.

Kimberly’s overarching mission is to improve people’s lives, by design.

Britt A. Lindberg, FAIA
2023-2024 Secretary

Britt Lindberg, FAIA, is a senior associate at Gensler, a global design firm of 6,000+ employees who shape the future of cities every day. With over 15 years of experience on commercial projects, Britt is an outstanding technical leader in San Jose, California. From entitlements through design and construction, Britt drives project implementation with exceptional team leadership that is essential to the project's and firm's success.

Britt is also very active in AIA, serving as 2014 AIA Silicon Valley president, 2018 AIA California president, 2020-2022 AIA National at-large director, 2021 chair of the Board Knowledge Committee, and more. She is a strong advocate for member communications, supporting emerging professionals and spreading awareness on the importance of design in everyday life. Her leadership was recognized with a 2016 Silicon Valley Business Journal "Women of Influence" award, and she became an AIA Fellow in 2022.

Timothy C. Hawk, FAIA
2022-2023 Treasurer

As an AIA leader and innovative practitioner, Timothy Hawk, FAIA, has increased design awareness and advanced knowledge exchange among architects and allied professionals through improved digital access, collaborative models, and educational programming.

He is president of WSA Studio in Columbus, Ohio. The firm partners with clients to design spaces that drive organizational change, attract top-tier talent, and build community. Many of the firm’s projects are widely recognized for design excellence.

As a community leader, Tim has served as the president of the Knowlton School of Architecture Alumni Society and is a founding member of the board of the Columbus Center for Architecture and Design.

Illya Azaroff, FAIA
2023-2025 At-large Director

Illya Azaroff, FAIA, is an architect, geographer, and internationally recognized leader in disaster response, climate adaptation, resilient design, and regenerative planning strategies with over 30 years experience.

He is the founder of +LAB architect whose mission is to build resilient capacity while giving underserved communities greater voice and visibility. He is a professor at New York City College of Technology (CUNY). He works with cities, governing bodies, and design teams around the world to build resilient capacity. Illya often receives foreign delegations on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.

He has served AIA in several key roles, including as the 2021 AIA New York state president, on the Strategic Council (2016-2018), and as founder of DFRR Design for Risk and Reconstruction committee at AIANY (2011-2021). He previously worked in Germany, Italy, and Holland. Illya has a Master of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute and bachelor's degrees in geography and architecture from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Ryan J. Gann, AIA
2021-2023 At-large Director

Ryan Gann, AIA, has blazed a trail founded on service, leadership, and design. From his time as an engaged student leader to his expanding contributions to the built environment, Ryan has managed to stay ambitious while having fun along the way.

His professional portfolio spans architectural and urban design investigations that enhance communities across Chicago and the world while expressing the role public space places in an equitable and sustainable future.

Ryan is the recipient of the 2018 AIA Associates Award and the Schiff Foundation Fellowship from the Art Institute of Chicago, and he was the inaugural Architect-in-Residence at the Hyde Park Art Center. Ryan has served on the national boards of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Nathaniel Hudson, AIA
2021-2023 At-large Director

Nathaniel Hudson, AIA, is a passionate architect dedicated to the profession and advancing its impact in society at large. Engaged in a large variety of roles, including in academia, professional practice, institutional leadership, art, fabrication, and volunteer community service, he has leveraged an array of abilities to become a prominent voice in shaping practice, theoretical exploration, and community engagement. He has an extensive background of volunteerism within AIA, serving in top leadership positions at the local, state, and regional levels simultaneously with his time on the AIA Strategic Council.

Nate is a founding principal and owner of FormGrey Studio, an experimental and exploratory firm with offices in Reno, Nevada, and Omaha, Nebraska. The work of FormGrey embodies his pluralistic nature and exists at the confluence of his various roles while promoting the highest standards of workplace equity and inclusion.

Kevin M. Holland, FAIA, NOMAC
2022-2024 At-large Director

Kevin M. Holland, FAIA, NOMAC, has practiced architecture for over 25 years. He is a principal-in-charge at HMC Architects in Los Angeles where he serves as a business development and project lead in the higher education, K-12, and community + culture practice areas. Over the course of his career, he has worked as an operations director and a project manager and/or project architect on numerous higher education and health care projects, most notably the Hampton (Virginia) University Student Center, the University of Akron (Ohio) Student Recreation Facility, the Indiana University Memorial Stadium North Endzone Expansion, the Purdue (Indiana) University France Cordova Student Recreation Facility, and the Intermountain Healthcare Alta View Hospital Campus Expansion in Sandy, Utah

At present, Kevin serves as an At-large director on the AIA Board of Directors as well as chair of the Government Advocacy Committee. In addition to national service to AIA, Kevin has served as 2020–2021 secretary of the Board of Directors for the AIA Los Angeles chapter, as the 2015–2016 national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), on the Board of Trustees of the NOMA Foundation, on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Tuskegee University School of Architecture, and on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of Virginia School of Architecture.

Kevin obtained his Bachelor of Science (Arch.) degree from the University of Virginia and his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan and holds, or has held, registrations in Delaware, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Laura Lesniewski, FAIA
2022-2024 At-large Director

Laura Lesniewski, FAIA, is a principal at BNIM in Kansas City. As an architect, she enjoys exploring the unique characteristics of each project and is dedicated to pursuing the highest levels of sustainability to build truly thriving communities. Laura has collaborated on benchmark projects that serve as models for next-generation green buildings.

She values teaching an integrated design studio each year, working on projects close to home and around the world, and she serves on the board of a local housing organization as the challenge of affordable housing deepens.

Having served AIA at the local, state, regional, and national levels, she continues to believe that AIA and all architects play a significant role in addressing climate change through their designs.

Korey D. White, AIA
2023-2025 At-large Director

Korey White, AIA, is driven by her desire to create more equitable and inclusive communities, bringing open-mindedness and a systems view to her role as an architect and urban planner. She applies her dual master’s degrees in architecture and urban and regional planning to an interdisciplinary approach that creates impactful outcomes for her clients and the community. Korey leads planning at DLR Group as a planning discipline leader and K-12 national planning leader. She recently graduated with a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was selected as a Forté Fellow and focused on entrepreneurship and strategic innovation and global challenges in business.

Korey is recognized for her leadership within architecture through her service on the AIA Strategic Council as 2022 moderator and at-large representative and was awarded the 2018 AIA Young Architects Award and the 2017 BD+C 40 under 40. She volunteers her time and energy to advance the future of the profession and raise the collective voices of all architects to effect change in the profession.

Darral J. Tate, Jr., Assoc. AIA
2023 Associate Director

Darral Tate Jr. is an emerging professional currently with the SLAM Collaborative. In 2020 he helped launch the firm's first DEI group and is now an ambassador representing the Atlanta office. His contributions include leading and co-creating several events within the firm centered around professional development, mentorship, and education on important cultural events like Juneteenth.

Darral is also a leader in other organizations. He is currently a board member with SPIKE Studios, helping to push its mission of exposing K-12 students from underrepresented communities to the AEC profession. He is also a member of NOMA and is a mentor to the Kennesaw State University student chapter. Darral is passionate about advocacy and hopes to continue to be a voice for those who are underserved.

Cooper Moore, AIAS
2023 Student Director

Cooper Moore is a graduate of the Kent State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design. He is currently serving as the 2022-2023 AIAS national president, after having previously served as the 2020-2021 Midwest quad director as well as in a number of positions at his school's AIAS chapter. He is a 2022 GRP Fellow, studying to become a certified Green Roof Professional. Outside of AIAS, he enjoys hiking, swimming, birdwatching, and slacklining.

Rusty Bienvenue
2022-2023 CACE Director

Rusty Bienvenue has served as executive director of AIA Houston since October 2010 and has run professional associations for more than 25 years. He is a recovering attorney who began his career as an assistant district attorney and later defended multinational corporations involved in large-scale product liability litigation at a large Houston firm. Rusty was born in Houston but grew up in 11 different cities (small towns mostly) in seven different states. He returned to Texas to attend the University of Texas and to Houston to attend the University of Houston Law Center.

Timothy Dufault, FAIA
2023 Director

Tim Dufault, FAIA, is a founder and the chief revenue officer for ConcertVDC, a blockchain-based platform for registering and sharing digital design information in the AEC industry. Concert solves the problem of data ownership and the secure sharing of digital information during the design and construction process. The company was established in 2019 and attracted investment from major international architecture and engineering firms. With more than $10 billion in project work across the platform, Concert is leading the transformation to a true digital ecosystem in architecture and construction.

Before joining Concert, Tim served as the CEO of Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc., an internationally award-winning firm with a solid history in designing a wide range of successful projects. As the CEO, he was responsible for the operation of the firm and focused on building the company while effectively moving resources across the organization to create award-winning environments.

Etty Padmodipoetro, AIA
2023 Director

Etty Padmodipoetro, AIA, is the founder and principal of Urban Idea Lab, where she concentrates on inclusive and equitable design; her accessibility work addresses physical, visual, and cognitive mobility limitations. She believes in strong collaboration with surrounding communities and stakeholders to bring social equity through design.

Her office specializes in infrastructure and community development projects. She finds it critical to balance large-scale infrastructure projects with their surrounding neighborhoods. She is currently working on master plans, transit-oriented developments, transit systems, highways, pedestrian and bicycle bridges, and integrated public arts projects.

She also works closely with architects and academics in Indonesia on infrastructure projects. She was the 2022 chair of AIA Housing Awards Jury and the 2020 chair of the AIA Housing Community Development Knowledge Community.

Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE
EVP/Chief Executive Officer

Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, is the EVP/Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a dynamic network of more than 96,000 architects and design professionals throughout 200 chapters committed to enhancing the built environment.

Woods previously served as President & CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) where she led efforts to expand the organization’s programs and markets while growing and strengthening its membership base.

Prior to joining NIBS, she was the Sr. VP & Chief Marketing Officer at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), where her team was responsible for all marketing and revenue-generating programs – including marketing the International Builders Show, sponsorship sales and partnerships with major national companies.

Woods is the author of the book "Never Get Their Coffee: Empowering Fearless Leadership" and currently serves as Chair of the Board for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She also currently serves on the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland School of Architecture, previously served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors and is a global speaker. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in College Park and lives with her husband and daughter in Howard County, Maryland.

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