Susan Chin, FAIA, Hon. ASLA is an urbanist and civic leader who leads the independent consultancy DesignConnects, advancing design excellence in the public realm. Most recently, she served as Co-Commissioner of the U.S. Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, in partnership with the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Previously, Chin led Design Trust for Public Space, a nationally recognized New York City nonprofit, where she spent more than eight years shaping innovative, equitable public spaces. Before that, she served for over two decades as Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects at the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, commissioning over $3B in high-performance architecture and public art across the city.
A national leader in the profession, Chin chaired the AIA Committee on Design in 2024, served as Vice President of the AIA National Board, and was Chapter President of AIA New York. Her civic service includes the East Midtown Governing Group and the NYC & Company Board of Directors.
Her honors include the 2025 William A. Bernoudy Resident in Architecture at the American Academy in Rome; Honorary Membership in the American Society of Landscape Architects; the Kideney Gold Medal from AIA New York State; The Ohio State University Distinguished Alumna Award; and the Loeb Fellowship at Harvard Graduate School of Design.