Next to Lead is AIA’s ten-month leadership development program for a diverse cohort of women in architecture. Designed to prepare participants for volunteer leadership roles within the association and the profession, it combines monthly virtual learning with in-person workshops led by expert speakers and AIA staff. Along the way, participants sharpen their leadership skills, build their association acumen, and take on the challenges women face in the workplace. Because a profession that serves everyone has to include everyone.
Please join in welcoming the 2026–2027 Next to Lead cohort, representing AIA chapters across the country, and an extra congratulations to Oyuki Sulu, Assoc. AIA of AIA Pennsylvania.
- Madhubala Ayyamperumal, Assoc. AIA, STUDIOS Architecture, AIA Silicon Valley
- Justice Barnes, Assoc. AIA, Cromwell Architects Engineers, AIA Arkansas
- Fallon Barrett, Assoc. AIA, City of Houston, AIA Houston
- Alexandra Chaves, Assoc. AIA, Restructure Studio, AIA Austin
- Zining Cheng, Assoc. AIA, NBBJ, AIA Seattle
- Viraj Dave, Assoc. AIA, Rieder USA, AIA Chicago
- Kiara De Leon, Assoc. AIA, Manuel Bermudez Arquitecto CSP, AIA Puerto Rico
- Kariba Lawson, AIA, HDR, Inc., AIA Colorado
- Danielle McCormick, Assoc. AIA, Stantec, AIA Washington, DC
- Shaili Patel, AIA, Colby Company, LLC, AIA Alaska
- Dyuthi Prakash, AIA, studio-verse, AIA New York
- Elizabeth Robertson, AIA, HFG Architecture, AIA Eastern Oklahoma
- Jane Rodrigues, AIA, Gensler, AIA Atlanta
- Andrea Simpson, AIA, SSOE Group, AIA Alabama
- Vanessa Smith-Torres, AIA, Perkins&Will, AIA Miami
- Brittney Sooksengdao, AIA, Gensler, AIA Washington, DC
- Oyuki Sulu, Assoc. AIA, Cushman & Wakefield, AIA Pittsburgh
- Arti Verma, AIA, Dynamik Design, AIA Atlanta