Now in its second year, the AIA Pennsylvania Women’s Leadership Summit Scholarship is sending six members to Boston for September’s AIA leadership event.

This year’s six scholarship recipients have demonstrated a passion for architecture and the built environment, involvement in the AIA, and as advocates for sustainability and social equality to better the architecture profession and their communities.

Select the recipients’ profiles to learn what they aspire to gain and contribute from attending the Women’s Leadership Summit. Special thanks to this year’s evaluation task force , charged with setting criteria and reviewing the applications to advocate for recipient funding.

Ramune Bartuskaite, AIA
Associate Architect | FIFTEEN Architecture & Design

Zuzanna Bojarska, Associate AIA
Architectural Designer | The SLAM Collaborative

Danielle Fleischmann, AIA
Architect | DIGSAU

Anastasia Markiw, AIA, ACHA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate
Project Manager/Director | DesignGroup

Mehrzad Mashouf, Associate AIA
Architectural Designer | Lenhardt Rodgers Architecture + Interior Design

Jennifer Stark AIA, CSBA
Director of Capital Projects | Stark design, pc

Interested in attending next year? The AIA Pennsylvania Women’s Leadership Summit Scholarship will open the 2024 application period in the spring of 2024.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

The Women’s Leadership Summit brings together the industry’s largest network of diverse women who are breaking down barriers, making themselves visible, and manifesting the careers they want—while making a difference in the world. The annual event focuses on networking, leadership training, business development, gender equity, and personal empowerment.

This year’s offerings reflect this focus, from personal career development to firm culture, business and entrepreneurship, work/life balance, and mentorship.

MEET THE EVALUATION TASK FORCE

Jamie Ober, AIA, LEED AP
Executive Committee, AIA Pennsylvania
Principal | Lenhardt Rodgers Architecture + Interior Design

Carl Handman, AIA
Board of Directors, AIA Pennsylvania
President | Eyerman.Csala.Hapeman & Handman – Architects, LLC

Elysia Mikkelsen, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Board of Directors, AIA Pennsylvania
Project Architect | Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates Architects

Ken Doyno, AIA, LEED AP
Executive Committee/Government Affairs Committee Chair, AIA Pennsylvania
Senior Principal/President | Rothschild Doyno Collaborative

Michael Metzger, AIA, LEED AP
Executive Committee/President-Elect, AIA Pennsylvania
President | Alloy5

GOALS FOR GAINS & GIVING BACK

Ramune Bartuskaite, AIA, LEED GA, WELL AP
Associate Architect | FIFTEEN Architecture & Design

I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to meet and learn from inspiring fellow female architects from all over the country and to be able to expand my network of changemakers who are fearlessly reimagining the way we practice and promote equity in our profession. I hope to bring back the lessons learned and knowledge to my firm, FIFTEEN. I feel lucky to have a leadership role in this female-founded firm that is not afraid to break barriers and do things differently. By collaborating with my team at FIFTEEN, I hope to develop and execute strategies that align with the principles and visions shared at the summit, ensuring a continuous positive impact on our firm and the broader architectural community.

Zuzanna Bojarska, Associate AIA
Architectural Designer | The SLAM Collaborative

Witnessing the accomplishments and contributions of strong female leaders in the field of architecture serves as a powerful source of inspiration and guidance for young professionals like myself. Learning from women who have expanded boundaries, shifted the narrative, shattered glass ceilings, and created new realms as well as expertise within the architectural domain is not only empowering, but also vital for the progression and diversification of the industry.

As a young woman pursuing a career in architecture, observing strong female leaders in the field has priceless benefits for me. Having strong female architects as role models gives me the confidence to believe in my own abilities and aspirations. Seeing women who have achieved success in architecture provides tangible proof that I, too, can make a significant impact in the industry. Their stories of resilience and innovation motivate me to overcome obstacles and strive for excellence in my own architectural journey.

Being able to attend AIA Women’s Leadership Summit allows me to connect with and learn from these influential women, gaining valuable insights, guidance, and support that shape my aspirations, ideas, and professional growth.

Danielle Fleischmann, AIA
Architect | DIGSAU

I hope to be able to share experiences with likeminded individuals and learn from challenges that others have faced. This conference is an opportunity to feel empowered and supported, while expanding my knowledge and viewpoint of our industry. Many conferences are focused on trending topics and typical relationships; however, I am excited at the opportunity to have candid conversations with current and future leaders of our industry.

Anastasia Markiw, AIA, ACHA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate
Project Manager/Director | DesignGroup

There is no other national conference for promoting and sharing female identifying persons’ experiences in the architecture industry. Having experienced inequity in the design industry as a young, female, gay architect married to a refugee minority architect, attending the Women’s Leadership Summit, for one, would make me feel so validated that the experiences that I have are not isolated instances. I believe it is important to attend the Summit, listen and learn from the conference speakers and participants, and take back implementable lessons learned to apply in my firm to move the workplace needle towards equity, diversity, and inclusion, across the organization.

Mehrzad Mashouf, Associate AIA
Architectural Designer | Lenhardt Rodgers Architecture + Interior Design

My main goal is to be inspired personally and professionally by getting to know all the talented women in leadership positions in the field. It is a great opportunity for networking, and discussing the challenges that women in the architecture field may deal which ultimately leads to feeling safe and part of a group. I believe this summit would provide educational and inspirational tools to thrive.

Jennifer Stark AIA, CSBA
Director of Capital Projects | Stark design, pc

I would like to serve as a mentor based on my multi-faceted experiences. I had a WBE architectural and historic preservation practice for 17 years, have been an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University teaching historic preservation, managed the program managers overseeing the Sandy Disaster Relief Grant Program with the NJ Historic Trust and the National Park Service, and currently serve in the nonprofit world as the Director of Capital Projects for the Kimmel Cultural Campus in Philadelphia. I serve on local government boards and commissions and have held trustee positions with local nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County, the William Trent House Association, the Lower Makefield Historical Society, Friends of Bolton Mansion, and nationally with Preservation Action.