The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is proud to announce the 2026-27 Next to Lead cohort. The selected participants will engage in a 10-month program aimed at enhancing their association leadership acumen, tackling challenges faced by women in the workplace and the architecture profession, and refining their leadership skills.
AIA created Next to Lead—which was recently recognized by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) with a 2026 Power of Associations Gold Award—to develop a diverse cohort of women leaders in architecture. Established through a member-led resolution advanced by the AIA Strategic Council in 2018, Next to Lead offers a national leadership pipeline that prepares and advances women from diverse backgrounds for leadership and governance roles throughout AIA.
Participants benefit from monthly virtual learning opportunities and in-person workshops led by expert speakers and AIA staff. Participants will meet monthly for virtual training sessions as well as take part in two in-person gatherings during Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) and the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design® (AIA27). 2026-27 Next to Lead cohort:
- Madhubala Ayyamperumal, Assoc. AIA, STUDIOS Architecture, AIA Silicon Valley
- Justice Barnes, Assoc. AIA, Cromwell Architects Engineers, AIA Arkansas
- Fallon Barrett, Assoc. AIA, City of Houston, AIA Houston
- Alexandra Chaves, Assoc. AIA, Restructure Studio, AIA Austin
- Zining Cheng, Assoc. AIA, NBBJ, AIA Seattle
- Viraj Dave, Assoc. AIA, Rieder USA, AIA Chicago
- Kiara De Leon, Assoc. AIA, Manuel Bermudez Arquitecto CSP, AIA Puerto Rico
- Kariba Lawson, AIA, HDR, Inc., AIA Colorado
- Shaili Patel, AIA, Colby Company, LLC, AIA Alaska
- Dyuthi Prakash, AIA, studio-verse, AIA New York
- Elizabeth Robertson, AIA, HFG Architecture, AIA Eastern Oklahoma
- Jane Rodrigues, AIA, Gensler, AIA Atlanta
- Andrea Simpson, AIA, SSOE Group, AIA Alabama
- Vanessa Smith-Torres, AIA, Perkins&Will, AIA Miam
- Brittney Sooksengdao, AIA, Gensler, AIA Washington, D.C.
- Oyuki Sulu, Assoc. AIA, Cushman & Wakefield, AIA Pittsburgh
- Arti Verma, AIA, Dynamik Design, AIA Atlanta
- Danielle McCormick, AIA, Stantec, AIA Washington, D.C.
“Next to Lead didn’t just teach me about leadership—it helped me recognize the leader I already was,” said past participant Chien-Yi Chu, Assoc. AIA. “I came away with something I didn’t expect: a deeper trust in my own voice; not as someone still earning a seat at the table, but as someone ready to help build it.”
Next to Lead is free of charge for all participants. All cohort participants will receive complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend WLS and AIA27.
About the American Institute of Architects
Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public well-being. It provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards.
 is proud to announce the 2026-27 Next to Lead cohort. The selected participants will engage in a 10-month program aimed at enhancing their association leadership acumen, tackling challenges faced by women in the workplace and the architecture profession, and refining their leadership skills.){kind=link}