The American Institute of Architects selected new board officers last week at the organization’s annual conference, held this year in San Diego. The elections were notable for the number of candidates vying for the position of 2028 president. Six people put their names forward, compared to two or three in a typical year. Joyce Owens, founder of the namesake Fort Myers, Florida–based firm, and cofounder of London-based Azman Owens Architects before that, garnered the required majority of the delegates’ votes after runoff. Owens, who has several roles at the institute, including serving as AIA Florida President, will take office as president-elect in December, when the current president-elect, Yiselle Santos Rivera, becomes president. RECORD spoke with Owens about the race and her vision for the organization and the profession.

RECORD: I’ve heard that the number of candidates for 2028 president was unprecedented. What do you believe motivated so many people to run?

Owens: I think a lot of people ran because someone suggested to them that they should. I was invited by a member of the current board.

So, the number of candidates was not the product of something in the air, but the result of outreach?

I think that's exactly right.

Why do you think your candidacy resonated with the delegates?

Many people told me that my platform—of communicating the value of architects to the public—really hit home. People think that we draw buildings, that we make cool models, or that we make blueprints. But we're about building better communities. There's no point in thinking about anything else if the public doesn't understand our value. 

What other urgent issues are facing the profession?

Artificial intelligence. With AI, it is even more critical that we communicate our value because the public will think architects are not important. The two issues go hand in hand. But I am heartened by the work of the institute’s AI task force. They have a great start putting together a toolkit for using the technology to perform some of the mundane tasks of running a business, but it leaves the creative side to architects.

What are you most looking forward to as 2027 president elect and 2028 president?

We have a new executive vice president/CEO, Carole Wedge, and a new strategic plan, which just came out in March, which provides a framework for the organization to make decisions about where to focus its energy. It’s an opportune moment to have been elected right now. The pieces are in place for us to make progress.

The strategic plan has an acronym. Is it P-A-C-E?

Yes. It stands for practice, advocacy, climate, and equity. We know what those four words mean. It's a clear and effective message to help us move forward. I'm happy and excited about that.