2026 EDITORIAL TEAM

Afomia

Hunde

Location:

Cambridge, MA

Country of Origin:

Ethopia

Gwendoline Albright N_headshot_edited.jpg

Gwendoline A. Ndikumagenge

Location:

Denver, CO

Country of Origin:

USA

Arti

Verma

Location:

Atlanta, GA

Country of Origin:

India

Jane

Rodrigues

Location:

Atlanta, GA

Country of Origin:

India

Bhavik

Shah

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Country of Origin:

India

Zuzanna

Bojarska

Location:

Philadelphia, PA

Country of Origin:

Poland

Gabriella

Bermea

Location:

Austin, TX

Country of Origin:

USA

All Posts

Design Your Life: Curiosity, Courage, and Iterative Growth

Photo Credit: San Jose State University Architecture teaches us how to design buildings, cities, and systems—but rarely how to design our own lives. For immigrant architects especially, life often unfolds without a clear blueprint. Cultural expectations, immigration barriers, financial uncertainty, and professional gatekeeping shape our paths in ways that are invisible to many of our peers. In my talk at AIA Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS), I reflected on how I have learned t

Madhubala Ayyamperumal

Apr 243 min read

Get Inspired: Inside the AIA National Associates Committee (NAC) 2026 Annual Meeting

From February 14–16, 2026, State/Territory Associate Representatives (StAR) from AIA State Chapters across the country gathered at the AIA Global Campus for the AIA National Associates Committee (NAC) Annual Meeting, and the energy was contagious. Led by Brett Wedding, AIA NAC President, and Katie Cherrie, Assoc. AIA, Vice President, this year’s meeting embraced a team-building theme: NAC Olympics, a reminder that collaboration, creativity, and community are at the heart of e

Danielle McCormick & Manuel Granja

Apr 164 min read

Navigating Your Career During Unprecedented Times

Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting geopolitics have reshaped our world, creating unprecedented challenges, especially for immigrant professionals in the United States. In addition to domestic challenges, changing immigration policies and international travel restrictions, global events can quickly affect career opportunities for those of us trying to establish a career abroad. I am an immigrant architect from Yangon, Myanmar, and I started my journey

Dimple Zeng

Mar 264 min read

Leading with Purpose: Advocacy, Leadership, and Connection at the AIA Leadership Summit

From February 10-14, more than 700 members of the American Institute of Architects gathered in Washington, DC, for the annual AIA Leadership Summit, an energizing convening of component leaders committed to advancing the profession through advocacy, governance, and shared learning. Danielle McCormick, Assoc. AIA (AIA Washington, DC Chapter) and Graciela Carrillo, FAIA (AIA Long Island Chapter), actively engaged in the summit’s programming, which served as a powerful reminder

Danielle McCormick & Graciela Carrillo

Mar 203 min read

Designing Access by Building a Scholarship Ecosystem

For many immigrant architecture students, entry into the profession is shaped as much by immigration policy as by architectural talent. The cost of education is rarely just tuition. It is tuition layered with visa restrictions that limit work hours, volatile currency exchange rates, and the need to rebuild professional networks from scratch. It is navigating OPT timelines, work authorization renewals, and the uncertainty of sponsorship while trying to focus on studio and exam

Saakshi Terway

Mar 123 min read

The Heavy Head That Wears the Crown: Navigating leadership, motherhood, and burnout while designing hope for others

Photo Credit: Jeffery Sauers and Wiencek+ Associates Architects+ Planners Pandemic Beginnings: Isolation and Leadership My son was born during the height of the pandemic in May 2020, when hospitals were tense, cities had shut down, and fear filled the air. We brought him home to a world of isolation: no visitors, no celebrations, just silence. At the same time, I was adjusting to remote work and first-time motherhood. With no boundaries between home and office, no breaks, and

Krutika Shah

Feb 263 min read

Building a Brand by Building Something: How My Pandemic Tea Brand Shaped My Personal and Professional Identity

As someone who currently works in a corporate environment where branding is supported by large budgets, agencies, and dedicated teams, I understand how distant that model can feel from individual practitioners. But in reality, the most powerful brands are often built by individuals through intention, consistency, storytelling, and service. My journey into branding didn’t begin in a corporate boardroom. It started with tea. I chose tea as my medium because it was personal. Dur

Oyuki Thomas

Feb 204 min read

Starting Your Own Firm – Part 2

( Link to Part 1) Having my own firm has been a dream of mine since childhood. Executing that dream, however, is a much more challenging undertaking. In my previous blog, I shared some general tips on how to start your own firm. In this post, I would like to spend some time discussing the technical aspects and paperwork involved in setting up a business. Since I reside in California, the procedures and steps discussed in this article are based on my experience establishing a

Yu-Ngok Lo

Jan 294 min read

Making “Otherness” Your Superpower

As immigrants, we are often reminded of the challenges that shape our professional journeys. These include immigration policies that limit opportunities, language and idioms that obscure meaning, and cultural norms that make us hesitate to advocate for ourselves. Today, however, I want to focus on something different: the strengths that immigrant professionals bring, the traits that make us exceptional problem-solvers and integrators of ideas. These traits are particularly be

ShivaMendez

Jan 223 min read

The information, views, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and are based on the author’s personal experience. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice, nor should they be construed as such. The content is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers should consult with a qualified, licensed attorney or appropriate professional regarding their individual legal concerns.

The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of the Immigrant Architects Coalition, its board of directors, officers, members, or affiliates.