American Institute of Architects Elects First Black Woman President
by Stacy Jackson
December 27, 2023
Kimberly Dowdell, an architect with a distinguished career spanning design, education, and urban development, will begin her term in 2024.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has inaugurated Kimberly Dowdell as its 100th president, the first Black woman to hold the position.
Dowdell, an architect with a distinguished career spanning design, education and urban development, will begin her term in 2024.
She joins AIA CEO Lakisha Ann Woods and President-elect Evelyn Lee to mark the second straight year of all-female leadership for the industry group, according to HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm.
“Being elected as the 100th president of AIA is both an honor and responsibility that I embrace wholeheartedly,” Dowdell said. She added that the opportunity aligns with her mission of using design to “nurture progress, equity, and sustainability for all.”
Dowdell’s rise, from her roots in Detroit to leading the prominent 98,000-member organization, serves as an inspiration for women and people of color aspiring to leadership roles in architecture.
“Seeing her in this significant leadership role sets an inspiring example and path for more women and people of color to achieve influential positions in architecture and design,” said HOK Co-CEO Susan Klumpp Williams, one of the first women to lead a major design firm.
As president, Dowdell plans to promote diversity and sustainability across the built environment. She brings experience from her time as president of the National Organization of Minority Architects and co-founder of the SEED diversity initiative.
Dowdell’s portfolio encompasses architecture, teaching, government and real estate development. She holds degrees from Cornell and Harvard and was elected to Cornell’s board in 2022.
The AIA presidency caps Dowdell’s steady ascent as a champion for equity in the field. Her inclusive vision for architecture lines up with the institute’s mission of advancing the value of architects worldwide.
“This opportunity to serve my profession beautifully aligns with my overarching mission,” Dowdell said.
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