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.
Roles and duties of the Young Architect Representative (YAR)
Young Architect Representatives represent young architects within AIA at the state and national level. They are the primary connection between local AIA chapters and the national YAF Advisory Committee (AdCom).
The Young Architect Representative communicates information from AIA National to local emerging professional groups and vice versa by:
- Maintaining quarterly communication with all YAF chapters within their state
- Serving as a conduit between local YAF chapters and the AdCom
The Young Architect Representative contributes to the direction and planning of the YAF by:
- Participating in the YAF Annual Meeting and attending YAF full committee conference calls
- Working with the AdCom on various national issues through participation in at least one YAF Focus Group
- Attending AIA Leadership Summit and AIA National Conference, when possible
The Young Architect Representative serves young architects at the state level by:
- Providing reports regarding the activities of the YAF and emerging professionals groups when requested
- Maintaining quarterly communication with the following counterparts from their state: National Associates Committee (NAC) state representatives, Strategic Council representatives, and College of Fellows (COF) regional representative
- Attending monthly AIA Leadership Exchange calls
- Suggesting or encouraging young architects for nomination for state or national awards, positions or committees/subcommittees.
Young Architect Representatives have the option to represent YAF within the larger AIA National community by serving as a member of or liaison to any of the following: Strategic Council work groups, Knowledge Communities, Board Committees, Member Interest Groups, or Task Forces. These opportunities may vary from year to year.
Additional responsibilities may be required by each respective state. Young Architect Representatives are required to work with their states to ensure that expectations from state leadership are clearly defined and met. The AdCom encourages all applicants to discuss the position with their state leadership (either the state AIA President and/or Executive Director) to fully understand the role and commitment that the Young Architect Representative will have to their respective state prior to submitting an application.
Activities of a YAR
Every month this position will require 4 to 5 hours of your time. The state representative should expect to participate in the following calls and meetings:
- Full committee Annual meeting (Q1, travel and lodging paid by AIA National)
- Bi-monthly Full Committee Calls (2 hours each call)
- Working group calls (frequency depends on the workgroup and their current load, but assume 1-2 hours a month)
- Special calls as needed (generally no longer than an hour)
- AIA Leadership Exchange calls (1 hour quarterly)
Application Requirements
AIA Membership – Applicant must be an AIA member in good standing within AIA Virginia (AIA Blue Ridge, AIA Central Virginia, AIA Coastal Virginia, AIA Northern Virginia, and AIA Richmond) and must be licensed not more than 10 years at the time of submission.
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 YAR position and the Nominee’s leadership qualities. Limit one page.
Letter of Recommendation – From an AIA member. Indicate the Nominee’s qualifications for the YAR 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.
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).
Timeline
Prospective candidates should send their application materials to EVP Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org no later than Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Submissions will be reviewed by the Nominating Committee to confirm eligibility. The Board of Directors will review candidates and make an appointment during its meeting scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2025. Notification of new YARs are sent to the new YAR and the AIA YAF staff liaison during October 2025. Positions begin in January 2026, with AIA National-paid travel to the 2026 YAF Annual Meeting (date and location TBD).