R. Corey Clayborne, AIA

Creative and resourceful, R. Corey Clayborne, AIA, has distinguished himself as a leader at all levels. Recognized widely for his advocacy for the profession, he has positioned himself as a strong role model for young professionals while strengthening the AIA through his enthusiasm and devotion.

Clayborne, a project manager at Wiley|Wilson’s Richmond, Va., office, assumed a leadership role in the AIA in 2006 when he joined the AIA Blue Ridge Chapter’s board of directors. He founded the Chapter’s Young Architects Forum, which continues to thrive, and instituted hard hat tours, networking events, and a design competition that challenged participants to envision new environments in three distinct areas of the city of Roanoke. After his licensure and a significant promotion sent him to Virginia’s capital, he joined AIA Richmond’s board of directors and its YAF committee. His events, such as Bowling with Bosses, paired the Chapter’s emerging professionals with more experienced architects in an effort to foster mentorships.

Simultaneous with his service at the local level, Clayborne has held executive positions at the state and national levels. He represented Virginia and West Virginia as the states’ young architects regional director, and has been AIA Virginia’s vice president of government advocacy and vice president of professional excellence. In those roles, Clayborne envisioned the innovative Dime-a-Day campaign to raise funds for the Chapter’s political action committee and further enhanced Architecture Exchange East, AIA Virginia’s multiday continuing education event.

Helping to shape the future of the profession, Clayborne’s work on multiple NCARB committees has had immediate impact on the Architectural Experience Program and the National Architectural Accrediting Board standards. He steered the Intern Think Tank to such success as its inaugural chair in 2013 that NCARB’s board has continued to fund the idea-generating vehicle annually.

Clayborne’s leadership qualities have been recognized outside of the profession as well. In 2015 he was selected by Governor Terry McAuliffe to serve a four-year term on Virginia’s Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects. The youngest-ever appointee to the board, Clayborne was tapped by colleagues to chair its Architects Section. Last year the Charlottesville City Council appointed Clayborne to the city’s Planning Commission and to serve as its representative to the city’s Board of Architecture Review.

To give back to his community, Clayborne invests a significant portion of his time in organizations such as Computers4Kids, 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, and the First Baptist Church, where he and his wife lead a marriage ministry.

A true citizen-architect, Clayborne is deeply committed to the advancement of architecture. The profession has benefited immensely from his selfless service, and his contributions will no doubt continue to affect it positively.