The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has announced the inaugural 30-student cohort of the NOMA Foundation Fellowship (NFF), an initiative that seeks to increase diversity within professional practice as well as provide firm mentorship and design research experience for young emerging professionals.
With the recent events of COVID-19 and a growing civil rights movement sweeping the nation, the importance of actionable measures that increase representation within firms and foster better opportunities for Black and minority students is paramount. With these initiatives in place, NOMA has announced the placement of 30 students to engage in a two-month virtual summer research fellowship.
According to NOMA, "Amidst COVID-19 and record unemployment, NFF provides professional experience to underrepresented students with the goal of keeping them engaged in the profession and providing a pipeline to eventual employment. In all recessions, including the current one, minorities are often the most adversely impacted by job loss."
The NFF program is one of the first initiatives to address the AIA Large Firm Round Table 2030 Diversity Challenge (AIA LFRT).
Consistent growth, mentorship, and job opportunities for Black and minority graduates and students is "important now more than ever" says Carole Wedge, FAIA LEED AP, AIA LFRT Chair and President of Shepley Bulfinch. The application process was open to any National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) member in good standing. Those chosen will receive at $2,000 stipend as well as a job opportunity capped to 100 hours of work. However, according to NOMA, "host firms are offering additional funding to supplement the fellows’ work and hours."
Below is a list of the 2020 NFF cohort and their design firm placements.
Ngoc Linh Danh, Morgan State University, at Gould Evans
Takumi Davis, Carnegie Mellon University, at Desmond Architects. Davis will also participate in the ZGF Institute
Jameica Demercado, California Baptist University, at Hord Coplan Macht
Aaron deRoux, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, at HED
Monique Dorroh, Penn State University, at FXCollaborative
Keristen Edwards, Tulane University, at Ennead Architects
Desiree Green, Ball State University, at Gensler
Nancy Guerrero, Prairie View A&M, at CannonDesign
Damion Hardy, Mississippi State University, at Wight & Co.
Diana Hernandez, Serrano California Baptist University, at HED
Walter Hunt, Kent State University, at CannonDesign
Sami Jaber, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, at NBBJ
Roberto Medina, Ball State University, at Colloqate
Christina Meyer, North Dakota State University, at LS3P
Nimah Mohiuddin, Illinois Institute of Technology, at Mass Design Group
Barbara Nasila, University of California, Berkeley, at Cuningham Group
Kenny Nguyen, University of Houston, at Moody Nolan. He will also participate in the remote Shepley Bulfinch Summer Experience Program.
Olaoluwapo Odukoya, Illinois Institute of Technology, at CallisonRTKL
Himesh Patel, New York Institute of Technology, at Ayers Saint Gross
Malachi Pursley, Louisiana State University, at Ennead Architects
Rosario Rojas, California Baptist University, at Rothschild Doyno Collaborative
Sydnee Sampson, Tuskegee University, at EYP. She will also participate in the remote ZGF Institute.
Tyler Sauter, Illinois Institute of Technology, at CannonDesign
DeJanae Wright, Morgan State University, at KTGY Architecture + Planning
Current NOMA President and HOK Principal, Kimberly Dowdell, NOMA, AIA, LEED AP shares, "During this time of economic uncertainty, we have an imperative to support the next generation of minority architects looking to find their way in the profession and the NOMA Foundation Fellowship program, funded by the American Institute of Architects Large Firm Roundtable (AIA LFRT), is helping us to achieve that."
4 Comments
Step in the right direction.The distribution of architects should reflect the general population.Like they are doing in the military and medical schools.This not only creates a stronger society but allows architects in design offices to tap into multiple perspectives to solve emerging urban and design issues.Like what happened in New Orleans after Katrina.Unfortunately most of the architects called in to solve the design issues did not have a sense of the social dynamics of the local population.It would have helped to have architects in touch with the local population either directly or indirectly.Demographics are changing meaning new challenges will emerge requiring complex solutions from diverse backgrounds.
AIA and licensed architects together with the schools have not done enough.Because of their faults they should actively close the gap.Targeting students from diverse backgrounds including students with income disparities from high school to college to licensing.
Schools should then create their own licensing programs run by licensed faculty with projects from the state and alumni endowment.Nothing wrong with schools creating an investment arm for their alumni to invest in projects where their own students participate as interns to meet licensing requirements;readying them for practice without having to engage employers who have in the past refuse equitable hiring.These students who have been selected have a chance but what will happen once they graduate.They have to go through the usual gate keepers who have failed in the past.
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