
June 27, 2022
Congratulations to AIA’s Next President
“We have the ability to not only see the future, but design a better one.”
Kimberly dowdell, AIA 2024 president-elect
Now Dowdell, a Cornell University alum with a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School, has an action plan for the AIA. Called the “AIA Alphabet Strategy,” it encompasses calls to action in the areas of Advocacy, Belonging, Climate Action, and Designing the future among other priorities.
Over her career, the Detroit native has embraced the full range of practice experiences by working in federal and city government roles, and in positions at small, medium, and large firms. While representation and diversity are among her priorities, Dowdell also has a track record of establishing new higher standards for practice: As an undergraduate student intern at the U.S. General Services Administration, she created the concept that underpins the Social, Economic, and Environmental Design (S.E.E.D) Network, which connects members of the general public with practitioners and now has more than 2,000 global members.
“My journey from humble beginnings to a dynamic career in architecture is highly improbable,” Dowdell said in her campaign speech. “But that’s what’s so special about being an architect. We have the ability to not only see the future, but to design a better one.”
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