A Call for Candidates

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A Call for Candidates for At-large Director and President-Elect

We applaud and appreciate the continuing contributions of Kendall Nicholson, Assoc. AIA, who serves as the At-Large Director on the AIA Virginia Board. And we look forward to welcoming his successor and our next President-Elect as we announce a call for candidates to both positions.

At-large Director Position

The At-large Director’s viewpoints should be statewide in scope. The term of office for this position is two years (non-renewable; non-consecutive terms). This position is open to both architect and associate members.

President-Elect

President-elect is a one-year position at the beginning of a three-year term of service on both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. During the first year the President-elect presides in the absence of the President. Following the initial year, the individual serves one year as President (presiding over the organization), and thereafter one year as Past President.

Candidate Declaration  

Any member-in-good-standing may declare their candidacy by informing the Secretary, through the Executive Vice President, of their intention to be considered for one of the available positions.

Submissions by candidates are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT, Monday, August 10, 2026, to Paul R. Battaglia, AIA, Executive Vice President, at pbattaglia@aiava.org. Candidates must submit the following:

  • A resume, headshot, and statement of philosophy. The statement of philosophy is limited to 250 words.
  • A declaration indicating that the individual’s firm does not employ unpaid labor on projects.
  • A letter of support from three different AIA Virginia members-in-good-standing.
  • Aspirants for the At-Large position must also submit a statement of acknowledgment from their local AIA component that the candidate will stand for election.

The Board of Directors will approve the full slate of candidates during its August Meeting, and the slate will be announced to members in advance of the elections to be held during the Annual Meeting of the Membership at Architecture Exchange East in Richmond, VA, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Terms of those elected will commence at the Board Meeting scheduled for Friday, December 11, 2026.

Race in America: Creating a Shared Language

Before we can address racial injustice and inequities in our community and the profession, we need to get comfortable talking about racism and its impact on our everyday lives.

Join us for an open and honest conversation led by Dr. Kendall Nicholson, Assoc. AIA. He’ll define common terms and provide historical context for current events. Hear about the lived experiences of people of color in the profession and better understand the obstacles they face.

This session is the first in our JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) series.

About our moderator:

Kendall A. Nicholson, Ed.D, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, LEED GA

Kendall Nicholson is a licensed educator, trained architectural designer, and an avid researcher.  He works as the Director of Research and Information at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).  With degrees in architecture, real estate and education, his research explores the discipline of architecture through the lens of a social scientist.  He has presented research internationally and his research interests surround equity, education, and curriculum within the discipline of architecture.

Nationally, his passion for equity and race relations manifests in his role as the lead researcher for the 2016 and 2018 Equity in Architecture Survey sponsored by AIA San Francisco and Equity by Design (EQxD). He also volunteers as a member of the AIA’s Equity and the Future of Architecture board committee and as an at-large director for the AIA National Associate Committee leading a work group on Mentorship and Equity. Locally, Dr. Nicholson serves on the Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee for Chesterfield County Public Schools and has started a term on the AIA Richmond Board of Directors.

This session is presented jointly by AIA Richmond and AIA Virginia

Register online.

Dr. Kendall A. Nicholson, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, LEED GA

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Dr. Kendall A. Nicholson is a licensed educator, trained architectural designer and an avid researcher. A native of Prince George, Virginia, his interest in architecture started in middle and high school with local and regional involvement with the Technology Student Association (TSA). Dr. Nicholson received his B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia in 2009, where he was the first to ever graduate the program in 3 years. He later obtained a Master’s in Real Estate from Georgetown University in 2010 and a Doctor of Education from Regent University in 2014.

Dr. Nicholson has professional experience working in the US and France as an architectural intern but found his calling while teaching architecture to grades K-12 and working in higher education administration. He is currently the Director of Research and Information for the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) in Washington, DC. ACSA is the organization that leads architectural education for 147 accredited schools of architecture in the US and Canada. His research explores the discipline of architecture through the lens of a social scientist. He has presented research on architectural education internationally and his research interests surround teaching, learning, and curriculum in the context of architecture. At ACSA, he makes efforts to engender research investigating diversity within the discipline of architecture, architectural relevancy and the economy, K-12 education and opportunity for architectural impact, and design scholarship and measurable student outcomes.

Nationally, his passion for equity, diversity and inclusion manifests in his role as the lead researcher for the 2016 and 2018 Equity in Architecture Survey sponsored by AIA San Francisco and EquitybyDesign (EQxD). He also volunteers as a member of the AIA’s Equity and the Future of Architecture board committee and as an at-large director for the AIA National Associate Committee leading a work group on Mentorship and Equity. Locally, Dr. Nicholson serves on the Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee for Chesterfield County Public Schools and has started a term on the AIA Richmond Board of Directors.