Archinect - News

NOMA summer programs saw 43 young professionals connected with architecture firms, fellowships, and grants

2024-09-10T08:00:00-04:00

National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has concluded the sixth edition of its NOMA Future Faces initiative, which sees young professionals connected with industry summer internships. The 2024 edition saw 25 students and recent graduates take part in a two-month summer fellowship, undertaking design research, project work, and firm mentorship.

The fellowship was open to all members of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) with the purpose to “develop and propel forward the next generation of Black and minority architects who will be designing for the future.” Alongside the practice placement, each fellow also received a $2,450 relocation reimbursement and is eligible to receive a $1,000 licensure stipend once they become a licensed architect.

Meanwhile, the organization also recently oversaw the latest edition of the Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Professional Development Program (PDP), which seeks to support architecture stu...

NOMA announces its 2023 summer fellowship cohort by welcoming 13 architecture students and graduates

2023-07-21T14:15:00-04:00

Continuing to not only champion but provide pathways to academic and professional advancement, the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) celebrates another fellowship cohort of young designers.

The NOMA Future Faces (NFF), formerly known as the NOMA Foundation Fellowship, recognizes 13 architecture students and graduates for this 2023 cohort as they engage in a two-month-long summer fellowship.

These fellowships are "hosted at leading architecture firms across the country where fellows engage in design research and benefit from firm mentorship," explains NOMA. "In an industry where only two percent of licensed architects in the United States identify as Black, the NFF plays a crucial role in providing valuable professional experience to underrepresented students."

The team at NOMA shared insight as to the fellowship's rebranding in 2023, explaining that the new name better highlights the program's mission and purpose to "develop and propel forward the next generation...

Students from NOMA's 2022 Foundation Fellowship cohort gain mentorship and work experience from 18 architecture firms

2022-08-04T14:10:00-04:00

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) celebrates its fourth class of architecture students chosen as this year's 2022 NOMA Foundation Fellowship (NFF) cohort. An initiative that provides mentorship and design research experience for young emerging professionals, the NFF has become an impactful program offered to underrepresented architecture students across the nation.

This year 20 architecture students were selected to be a part of the 2022 summer cohort. During the two-month summer fellowship, each student is hosted at a leading architecture firm nationwide. During the summer, student fellows "engage in design research and benefit from firm mentorship." NOMA shares, "NFF provides professional experience to underrepresented students to connect them to the profession and provide a pipeline to eventual employment, supporting the 2030 Diversity Challenge, which aims to increase the number of licensed Black architects."

Tiffany Brown, NOMA Executive Director shared,...

NOMA's Foundation Fellowship nurtures the next generation of architects and designers through mentorship and professional development at 19 architecture firms

2021-07-08T14:15:00-04:00

Mentorship opportunities for young architects and design professionals have been an ongoing mission for The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Now in its third iteration, NOMA announces 24 architecture students who will be part of the 2021 summer cohort for the NOMA Foundation Fellowship (NFF).

This two-month research fellowship will take place in person and virtually at 19 leading U.S.-based architecture firms. NOMA shares: "The NFF 2021 cohort will engage in design research and benefit from firm mentorship." In addition, NOMA has worked hard in building partnerships with various architecture firms that have collaborated with the NFF to provide professional experience to underrepresented students. This fellowship allows students to connect with the profession by establishing a pipeline for eventual employment once the fellowship ends.

In February 2021, NOMA announced its list of Winter Fellows consisting of ten students who were placed at ten design firms. Includ...

Ten architecture students from five HBCU's have recently been appointed to NOMA's 2021 Foundation Fellowship cohort

2021-02-13T11:45:00-05:00

Ten architecture students from five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are selected to be a part of NOMA's 2021 Foundation Fellowship (NFF). In 2020 NOMA announced the fellowship's inaugural cohort that consisted of 30 students from over 20 architecture schools across the United States.

The fellowship's mission was to provide professional experiences to underrepresented students through mentorship and direct collaboration with architecture firms. With the number of licensed Black architects slowly but steadily increasing, the fellowship allows students to stay engaged within the profession and provide a direct pipeline towards future employment opportunities.

Jason Pugh, newly appointed 2021-2022 NOMA President, shared his response to the recently announced student fellows and the schools participating. Pugh, proud HBCU alum who graduated from Howard University, shared in a statement, "HBCUs continue to provide opportunities to expand an educated Black middle clas...