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
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.
