A Call for Candidates

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AIA Virginia and its members benefit enormously from dedicated, effective, and passionate volunteers serving in a number of positions – many of which will be available. Before we provide details on those positions, let’s acknowledge and voice appreciation for those who have been serving so well:

Ashleigh Walker, Associate AIA – Associate Director
Erin Agdinaoay, AIA – Young Architect Representative (YAR)
Amber Hall, AIA – Treasurer
Bill Hopkins, AIA – President-elect
Stephanie Leedom, AIA and Robert Easter, FAIA – Strategic Council
Caitlin Morgan, Associate AIA – State/Territory Associate Representative (STAR)
Charles Piper, AIA – Chair, Large Firm Roundtable
Gina Robinson, AIA – State Licensing Advisor

Applause and appreciation to each and all.  Thank you.

More specific information about each of those positions appears below. Click on the position title to review the description and submission/application requirements. Please encourage qualified candidates (members in good standing) to apply. You are further encouraged to remember that might be you.

Submissions, including a letter of interest, a resume, and any additional items specific to the position sought, as well as any questions should be addressed to EVP, Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org prior to the applicable deadline.

AIA Virginia Board of Directors
AIA Virginia President-elect – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
AIA Virginia Treasurer – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
AIA Virginia Associate Director – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Large Firm Roundtable Chair – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The Firm Size and Career Stage roundtables convene several times each year to discuss issues of common concern. They afford the opportunity to exchange perspectives, identify best practices, and discuss what works – and what doesn’t. We are seeking a chair for the Large Firm Roundtable. AIA Virginia currently defines a firm as “large” if it has twenty-five (or more) employees. This position would commence as soon as possible. The next scheduled meeting of the roundtables will occur during Architecture Exchange East, November 5 to 7, 2025. Prospective candidates should send a letter of interest, a resume, and a headshot to EVP Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org no later than Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

National Associates Committee: STAR: State/Territory Associate Representative – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
State Associate Representatives (StARs) serve on the National Associates Committee (the NAC). The NAC  is the voice of Associate members of AIA. It represents and advocates for both mainstream and non-traditional associates – who constitute 19% of national AIA membership – at all components of the AIA.

State Licensing Advisor – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
The Architect Licensing Advisors Community is a group of individuals committed to assisting licensure candidates and architects as they navigate the path to licensure and reciprocity. Architect licensing advisors provide guidance throughout the licensure process by facilitating the flow of information to architecture students, licensure candidates, and architects. The program is led by NCARB and jointly supported by the American Institute of Architects. Appointees serve a two-year term.

Young Architect Representative – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
A YAR is a Young Architect Representative; an AIA member who has been licensed for less than 10 years and who serves as a liaison between the state chapter (in our case, AIA Virginia) and the Young Architects Forum (YAF) focusing on issues that concern Emerging Professionals (EPs; architects in the early stage of their career). The YAR serves a two-year term, beginning January 1, 2026.

Strategic Councilor – deadline Wednesday, July 30, 2025
The AIA Strategic Council (“The Council”) is a diverse group of forward-thinking leaders, charged with exploring new ideas and solutions to significant issues facing the profession of architecture and its role in society. The Council seeks to prioritize and make advancements by informing the AIA Board of Directors and other Institute bodies about important professional issues and opportunities. The Council is not an AIA governing body, which allows it the freedom to explore issues outside of current constructs. The Council’s primary focus is the future of the profession.

Strategic Council Applications Open

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The AIA Strategic Council (“Council”) is a diverse group of over 60 forward-thinking leaders, charged with exploring new ideas and solutions to significant issues facing the profession of architecture and its role in society. The Council seeks to prioritize and make advancements by informing the AIA Board of Directors and other Institute bodies about important professional issues and opportunities.

The Council is not an AIA governing body, which allows it the freedom to explore issues outside of current constructs. The Council’s primary focus is the future of the profession. A recent and profound example of this is the Council’s effort, along with the Board of Directors, to create the 2021–2025 AIA Strategic Plan.

IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRATEGIC COUNCILOR

While the form and operation of the Strategic Council have continued to evolve since its inception in 2015, engaged and effective Councilors over this time have several shared qualities.

We are seeking individuals with the following characteristics:

  • A true representative of our state’s members, that can bring forth the diversity of perspectives within our various communities
  • An exemplary communicator, a listener, and advocate who will capably serve as an active conduit for information and ideas to and from our members.
  • A natural leader, able to inspire, collaborate and work with others, who possess a bias for action.
  • A reflective thinker who offers expertise, experience, insight, and/or unique perspectives.

The AIA Bylaws do not require that state representatives be Architect members.

Questions for potential candidates may include:

  • Do you want to make a difference?
  • Are you an individual committed to action?
  • Do you embody the qualities of an engaged and effective councilor?

Commitments and Expectations of a Strategic Councilor

Click here to review the latest Handbook for the Strategic Council.

In addition, you can contact Donna Dunay, FAIA, Virginia’s current representative to the AIA Strategic Council (ddunay@vt.edu) with additional questions.

Application Requirements

AIA Membership – Applicant must be an AIA Virginia member in good standing.

Letter of Interest – From Applicant. Indicate understanding of the position, qualifications/experience, and reasons for seeking election. Limit one-page.

Letter of Nomination – From an AIA local or state component Board Member. Indicate the connection between the Strategic Council position and the Nominee’s leadership qualities. Limit one-page.

Letter of Recommendation – From an AIA member. Indicate Nominee’s qualifications for the Strategic Council position. Limit one-page.

Letter of Support – From Employer. A Principal (or Officer) within the candidate’s firm must commit to supporting the candidate in fulfilling the role’s obligations. Limit one page on company letterhead.

Personal Resume – Indicate education, employment history, organizations, activities, honors, and awards. Limit two pages (It is NOT in the applicant’s best interest to simply submit a firm resume with project experience).

Deadline

Completed applications must be submitted by email as a single PDF to Donna Dunay, FAIA, Virginia’s representative to the AIA Strategic Council (ddunay@vt.edu) AND Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, Interim Executive Vice President of AIA Virginia (helene@theplumstudio.com) no later than Friday, July 8, 2022.

Selection Process

The Nominating Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors to take action at its August 5, 2022 meeting.

From the AIA Strategic Council

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April – May 2021
Strategic Council/Component monthly briefing:
To better inform members of the work and activities of the AIA Strategic Council

Region: The Virginias
Regional Representative: Donna Dunay, FAIA
Contact info:ddunay@vt.edu

This has been an active spring with the Strategic Council with many initiatives that look to the future of the profession. We hope you find the following note informative. Please be in contact about any potential opportunities or concerns facing the future of the profession.

Read the 2021 AREAS OF STUDY