March 16, 2022

Donna Coen O’Gorman, AIA, Delivers Educational Design Excellence With Experience As A Client And An Architect In Today’s AIA New Jersey Women In Architecture Showcase

Donna Coen O’Gorman, AIA, graduated from NJIT with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1981, when less than 8% of the School of Architecture’s graduating class were women.

Her career trajectory soon led her to educational work, a sector she has dedicated her professional life to for more than 25 years. She has been employed by the Newark Public Schools, Rutgers University, Kean University and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.

In 2015, she retired from public service and joined DMR Architects. As a senior project manager, she brings a unique perspective from her previous role as a client. Today her vision is mostly focused on educating her clients on how to support today’s learners in advanced, sophisticated and effective learning environments, while also helping to implement these projects in a cost-effective way.

During her six years at DMR, in addition to managing hundreds of projects, she organically expanded her role to client advocacy, business development and understanding evolving educational programming needs. Through a commitment to continuing education, conference involvement and thought leadership, she is a published author and a frequent lecturer on topics such as school security, new project delivery methods, and design trends. Her enthusiasm and skill earned her the position of DMR’s educational sector’s first Director of Business Development in 2021.

A licensed architect, Donna is also an empowering advocate for professional licensure, having achieved her professional registration when the percentage of women starting the licensure process hovered around 10% of all applicants, with even less completing the process, as reported by The National Council of Architectural Registration Board.

By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in Architects League of Northern New Jersey, Business, Diversity, EquityInArchitecture, Members & the Community, Women in Architecture | Tagged: #AIA, #AIANJ, #AIANJWIA, #ArchitectsLeagueofNorthernNewJersey, #diversity, #EDI, #equity, #EquityInArchitecture, #girlpower, #Inclusion, #JEDI, #WIA, #WomenInArchitectue, #WomenInArchitectureShowcase, #womeninbusiness, #womeninconsruction, #womenleaders, #WomensHistoryMonth, #WomenWhoBuild, #womenwhowork, leadership | Comments (0)