The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced its EVP/Chief Executive Officer Lakisha Ann Woods will be stepping down from the post in February of next year, following a misconduct scandal that sparked outcries about organizational leadership, corporate spending, and nepotism. Woods was cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent investigation in August, which prompted the AIA Board of Directors to file an ethics complaint against her accusers in September. She has served as EVP/CEO since being named to the position in November 2021.
AIA President Kimberly Dowdell, lauded her tenure in saying: "[The] AIA is losing an incredible talent in EVP/CEO Woods, but we were so fortunate to have benefited from her leadership for three years. She is a leader among leaders, and those who have had the opportunity to collaborate with her understand how much of a loss this is to our organization and the profession of architecture. Woods leaves AIA in a stronger financial position than when she started, and we appreciate her expertise and fortitude in achieving this goal."
Woods, who made history as the first Black woman to serve in the post, said: "It has been an honor to serve as CEO of AIA working alongside such talented and dedicated professionals and members. I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved together, and I am confident that AIA will continue to evolve in the years to come."
Taking her place on an interim basis will be Stephen T. Ayers, the former Architect of the Capitol and interim CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences since 2021. The AIA says it will now "engage in a comprehensive search process to identify Woods’ successor" starting in 2025.
14 Comments
Guess they weren't done with layoffs!
Coincidentally over the weekend, I completed my AIA member survey. In the comment section, I said that I’m really sick of all these silly games going down at National, and I just want AIA to actually support its members. My local executive director is amazing, otherwise I would have quit several years ago.
I hope Lakisha lands on her feet in an even better situation.
GOOD RIDDANCE
While the public fireworks exposing the mess at AIA National will probably be winding down, the Institute's trajectory of providing less and less value for ever-increasing dues will certainly continue.
Political winds shifting means DEI is a liability. If Biden had won, surely nothing would have changed. Another DEI proponent Dowdell will likely be leaving next, unless the AIA wants to attract more negative attention.
You clearly don't know what you're talking about.
"Dowdell’s platform as AIA President will be to ensure there is space for minority architects at every level of AIA. “As the 295th living Black woman to earn an architectural license in the U.S., I am keen to help young women and people of color,” said Dowdell."
https://archinect.com/news/art...
And, what is your point? The profession is an old White male profession that will change just like everything else. People of color are not going anywhere and we are here to stay. Just as the world changes and shifts, so will organizational leadership. Let's stick to the fact that these were terrible leaders and their race has nothing to do with it. Dowdell was president and elected by the body of the membership---she is not a paid staffer. She will have a successor just as every other president before her. Her successor is a woman of color also.
So you are for DEI. Which is the promotion of race and gender over all other factors and goals. I'm just explaining that is the focus of today's AIA. As opposed to other goals, such as making design more accessible to more people and industries.
That is literally not what it means. You clearly embrace the right wing boogeyman talking points. ""Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" (DEI) refers to a concept that encompasses actively acknowledging, embracing, and supporting people from all backgrounds, including race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, and more, ensuring everyone has equal access and opportunity to participate and feel a sense of belonging within a given environment, like a workplace or community; essentially, it means valuing differences while providing fair treatment for all individuals."
Nobody is falling for that anymore. Read the quote again. Enough of this Orwellian doublespeak.
Whatever Ken.
Eamez you are revealing yourself as a deeply uncreative thinker in your comments here. You should be embarrassed, and ashamed, too.
Eamez wrote:
"So you are for DEI. Which is the promotion of race and gender over all other factors and goals. I'm just explaining that is the focus of today's AIA. As opposed to other goals, such as making design more accessible to more people and industries. "
No that is not DEI. If you actually believe this then you're a sexist, racist, fool.
I know you just come to post this junk because you can't actually contribute to anything related to architecture. You're upset that you never could become an architect. That's on you. Stop blaming others.
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