The call for applications is open! (Have questions? A Q&A / interest call is scheduled for November 7th. See registration link below!)
Align your focus areas and experience with other early career architect members.
Align with members of the College of Fellows through mentorship.
Align and improve early career architect members’ notable contributions to support their career legacy.
What is the Align Mentoring Program?
The Young Architects Forum and College of Fellows Align Mentoring Program is a long-range initiative (think ten years, not one) that connects young architects with AIA Fellows. Through a grouping system referred to as “pods”, the program pairs four to six young architects with two to three fellows, facilitating professional and leadership development. Align began as a pilot program in the late 2019, launching its first open call for applications and cohort in 2022. This coming year marks the fourth year of the program.
The program’s objectives are:
- To support young architects in defining their legacy within the profession while navigating their career paths.
- To create a vehicle for mentorship and career development that connects young architects and Fellows with peers across the country.
- To accelerate contributions of young architects and develop regionally diverse collectives to contribute more in the future.
Each pod begins with four to six young architects and two to three fellows; the number of pods organized each year depends on the amount of member interest. Pods are organized by focus area and consider experience level as a factor.
Choose 1 of 3 Focus Areas
A. Practice (Institute Leadership and Design)
Architects who have actively, effectively, and cooperatively led the institute or a related professional organization over a sustained period and have gained widespread recognition for the results of their work. Architects who have produced distinguished bodies of work through design, urban design, or preservation. This may be of any size for any client, of any scope, and reflecting any type of architectural design service. Practice holistically includes firm management, administration, and project management or speciality areas (specific building types, technical expertise, etc.)
B. Scholarship (Education and Research)
Architects who have made notable contributions through their work in education, research, or literature. Work in education may include teaching, research, administration, or writing and should have a lasting impact, be widely recognized, and provide inspiration to others in the field and the profession. Research areas may include building codes and standards, specifications, new material applications, or inventions.
C. Civic (Community and Public)
Architects who have made notable contributions in public service or work in government or industry organizations through leadership in the development of civic improvements and needed governmental projects, including such elements as conservation, beautification, land-use regulation, transportation, or the removal of blighted areas, or who have clearly raised the standards of professional performance in these areas by advertising the administration of professional affairs in their fields.
Choose 1 of 3 Experience Areas
Experience levels are organized as follows and where the number of an individual's years of experience within the profession comes into consideration:
1. Focused Engagement
- Has been an AIA member in good standing for generally less than five years.
- Has yet to focus on a body of work that identifies and aligns with a particular subject/topic area.
- Is in the early stages of compiling material for the Young Architects Award.
- May consider applying for AIA Fellowship within 10-plus years. The Early Career Architect (ECA) member hasn’t given fellowship much thought.
2. Refinement Effort
- Has been an AIA member in good standing for generally three to eight years.
- Has begun to focus on a body of work that identifies and aligns with a particular subject/topic area.
- Is in the process of applying for the Young Architects Award.
- Anticipates applying for Fellowship in five to ten years. The ECA member has considered fellowship sometime in the future.
3. Defining Legacy
- Has been an AIA member in good standing for generally more than six years.
- Has a notable body of work that identifies and aligns with one of the fellowship objects.
- Has applied for and received the Young Architects Award.
- Anticipates applying for fellowship within five years. The ECA member anticipates applying for Fellowship in the near future.
Program & Application Logistics
What is the anticipated time commitment?
The Align Mentorship Program has a long-range perspective; pods are expected to continue meeting for multiple years, evolving as their members progress through their professional development. Resources are available that set out examples of potential schedules, activities and discussion topics, or each pod can create its own. The YAF encourages the pods to meet formally as a group quarterly and have informal/offline communication one-on-one. In-person meetings are encouraged at AIA Leadership Summit, the AIA Conference on Architecture, and other regional conferences as opportunities present themselves.
Anticipated commitment from a YA Member Applicant = 1-2 hours per month.
Anticipated commitment from a COF Member Applicant = 1-2 hours per quarter.
Am I eligible?
- Young Architect Members: The program is open to registered architects within the first ten years of licensure. AIA membership is not a requirement but is encouraged.
- COF Members: The program is open to AIA College of Fellows members in good standing.
How do I apply as a Young Architect or a Fellow?
Individuals will be selected based on a written application, recommendations, and résumé. Successful applicants will represent a diverse group of early career architects and AIA Fellows who have demonstrated leadership within their firms and communities. Candidates are encouraged to emphasize their previous leadership experience; explain what they intend to contribute to the program; and specify what short and long-term goals they are focusing on.
- Statement of Interest: Candidates must submit a statement of interest (500 words or less).
- Letter(s) of Recommendation: Each application must include one (maximum two) letter(s) of recommendation and uploaded in PDF format.
- Personal Résumé: Include applicant’s education, employment history, organization or activity involvement, leadership roles, and honors and awards. Résumés are preferred to be no more than two pages and uploaded in PDF format.
- Focus Area and Experience Level: Applicants must indicate what focus area and experience level they are applying for.
Individuals may be nominated by their peers or be self‐nominated and will be selected on the basis of a written application, recommendations, and resume. Successful applicants will represent a diverse group of professionals who demonstrate a strong potential as current and future mentors.
Schedule
Have questions? A Q&A / interest call is scheduled for November 7, 2024, from 4-4:45pm ET. Register to attend.
All forms must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on November 26, 2024 to be eligible.
A jury will convene in November 2024 to make the selections of the 2025 program participants.
Candidates will be notified of their selection to participate in the program by December 31, 2024.
[Apply now!]