September 20, 2023
Reading Time: 6 minutes
The AIA New Jersey Equity in Architecture Committee will be celebrating World Architecture Day and Hispanic Heritage Month with a Book Signing and Panel Discussion featuring
AIA New Jersey Equity in Architecture Committee chair Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, CID, will moderate
This dynamic force will be sharing their stories of beating the statistical odds as Latinas in the profession of Architecture; their leadership roles in the regional, national and international arenas; discussing their books and taking questions from the audience. Five immigrant professionals will share their experiences as firm owners, American Institute of Architects leaders, and entrepreneurs; providing mentorship, advice, and valuable resources to fellow immigrant designers/architects and all emerging professionals. Participants will learn lessons to foster a successful, meaningful and equitable architectural career. The AIA National Associates Committee resources for an equitable path to licensure will be introduced. Panelists will share their experiences navigating a a-typical path to licensure, education verification, and professional practice for immigrants and individuals with international degrees or professional licenses.
This free event is open to all: AIA members, non-members, students, faculty, and the general public.
CEUs Pending
Park in the NJIT garage at 154 Summit St. Pull up to the card reader, press the button to call the office, tell them you are attending a lecture at College of Architecture and they will lift the security gate. Park anywhere inside. You don’t need to pay and you don’t need to put anything on your dashboard. From there, exit the building on to Summit St. Turn right and walk to Warren St. Cross straight at the light. Pass the NJIT bookstore on your right and then immediately turn right into an alley between buildings with a very long ramp. Go up the ramp and into the Hillier College of Architecture and Design. We are meeting in the Gallery which is one flight down from the floor you enter on.
Libertad Lauren Harris, Assoc. AIA, CSI-EP, WELL® AP, GGP Lauren is a dedicated advocate for our profession and for her fellow emerging professionals. In 2015, she served as the inaugural NJIT AIAS Liaison to AIA New Jersey’s Emerging Professionals Community (EPiC) where she gave a voice to architecture students and positively impacted their involvement with AIA New Jersey. Through this role, and her recent role on the AIA West Jersey Board of Directors, Lauren has spearheaded many successful events while increasing participation from AIA members at her office. This is a tribute to the infectious enthusiasm she injects into any conversation about the future of the architectural profession and AIA involvement. In addition to her volunteer efforts, Lauren has excelled as a BIM Manager at L2 Partridge Architecture and Interiors in Philadelphia, PA where she successfully balances BIM management, mentoring staff, communicating with clients and completing projects.
AIA | 2023 Vice Chair of the National Associates Committee
ArchiPAC | Steering Committee Member
AIA NEW JERSEY | Regional Associates Director [RAD] – New Jersey: 2020-2022
AIA NEW JERSEY | Chair of Committee on the Environment [COTE]: 2021-2023
AIA NEW JERSEY | Chair of Women In Architecture Committee [WIA]: 2019-2022
New Jersey Architects’ Political Action Committee [NJAPAC] | Trustee : 2019-2023
Graciela Carrillo, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, works as a Senior Manager at Nassau BOCES in Garden City, New York. Graciela serves as the AIA New York State representative for the AIA National Strategic Council, the past president of the AIA Long Island Chapter, and the Chapter’s Women In Architecture co-founder and Co-Chair. Graciela was the recipient of the 2019 AIA NYS Young Architect Award, the 2022 AIA Young Architect Award, and the 2023 AIA NYS President Award, and she was an honoree in 2021 of the Top 50 Women in Business in Long Island. She is one of the co-founders of the Immigrant Architects Coalition. Graciela is a national speaker, featured on various industry podcasts, and a featured author in the book “Latinas in Architecture: Stories of raising the 1% one Latina at a time”. Graciela co-authored the book, “City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers.” The book compiles stories from 24 successful professionals in our industry, navigating life in a new country, the challenges throughout the licensing process, and starting a new architectural firm. This year, Graciela and the IAC launched the Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast.
Gloria Kloter, AIA, NCARB, CODIA, is an award-winning architect, founder, and CEO of Glow Architects, a bestselling author, and a keynote speaker. Gloria has been a practicing architect both in her home country the Dominican Republic, and in the United States since 2004. As a testament to her influence and impact, Gloria Kloter currently serves as the Architect Licensing Advisor of the State of Florida through AIA Florida. She is a part of the
Board of Directors of the AIA Tampa Bay where she is the founder and chairperson of the Women in Architecture committee. She has dedicated a huge chunk of her career to helping other young architects grow. As a leader in the architecture community, she is the founder of Foreign Architects, a private online community where she mentors young and aspiring immigrant architects on how to obtain their architect license in the United States.
Delly D. Yaker, AIA, NCARB, is the founder and principal of Delly D. Yaker Architecture and Interior Design. She began her career in Caracas, Venezuela, graduating with a B.S. in Architecture from La Facultad de Arquitectura in La Universidad Central de Venezuela and completing a Construction Management program from La Universidad Metropolitana. Working at a handful of firms in Caracas, she eventually formed her own small partnership practice called Intrad:dos Arquitectura.
Upon moving to the United States, she began the tedious process of validating her architectural degree. This involved taking college courses and the Architectural Registration Exam—all in her second language. Years of studying and relearning yielded success and in 2016 she obtained her license and became a registered architect in New Jersey and New York.
Working full-time and raising three children, Delly continues to grow her business in hopes of expanding her dreams. Growing up in Venezuela, she was always certain of her passion for architecture. Her days were spent drawing up floor plans with colorful furniture even at a young age. Starting her own design firm has taken this passion to the next level. The hard work behind moving to a new country and continuing to practice architecture is exemplified in her commitment. Delly is motivated, dedicated, and fervent about her firm and her clients. She is an ardent mentor for Arquitina and co-authored the book, “City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers.”
ANGELICA ARENT, AIA, NCARB, was born and raised in Mexico City in a family of architects, attended college at Universidad Iberoamericana and became a licensed architect in Mexico. After graduation, she served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater. She also served as a design volunteer with nonprofit organizations. Angie is currently an associate at Shore Point Architecture, a firm located in Ocean Grove. For over 22 years, she has worked in the capacity as a project manager on a wide range of projects including single family residences, large multi-family condominium buildings, and commercial projects. As founder and active mentor of the program “Mentoring Matters” at her office, her goal is to elevate emerging professionals to flourish and thrive. Beyond the contributions she has made to the professional practice, speaking engagement, commitments and advocacy for young professionals, she has always made it a point to increase her presence in the Latina/x and Hispanic community. Angie is an active mentor for emerging Latina/x women in the field of Architecture at Arquitina passionate and a loyal advocate for women immigrants in the profession. She is currently an active member of AIA NJ Women in Architecture, Equity in Architecture Committees and a member of CREW NJ (Commercial Real Estate Women of New Jersey). Angie is passionate about mentoring, equity and empowering women in the industry.
By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in EquityInArchitecture, Women in Architecture | Tagged: #angelicaarentaia, #CityShapers, #DellyDYakerAIA, #diversity, #equity, #EquityInArchitecture, #gloriakloteraia, #gracielacarrilloaia, #Inclusion, #latinas, #latinasinarchitecture, #LibertadLaurenHarrisAssociateAIA, #StaceyRuhleKlieschAIA, #thearchitectureofmotherhood, #WIA, #womeninarchitecture | Comments (0)
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