On Wednesday, the American Institute of Architects announced the election of Kimberly Dowdell, marketing principal at HOK’s Chicago office, as the organization’s 2024 president. A winner of RECORD’s 2020 Women in Architecture Award, Dowdell previously acted as the 2019-2020 president of the National Organization for Minority Architects (NOMA). She will be the first Black woman to serve as AIA president in the organization’s 165 year history.

In her campaign, Dowdell proposed an “alphabet platform” consisting of advocacy for architects in practice, belonging, climate action, and designing the future. “I think it's important that the AIA is advocating for the prosperity and fulfillment of architects,” she told RECORD. “By increasing our relevance and opening our world up a bit more to the public, we can attract more young people to want to pursue architecture and have more informed clients.”