Alison Nash AIA
Associate | Sustainability Coordinator, Architecture + Interiors
Sasaki Associates, Inc. Boston, MA

Candidate Statement

Alison Nash is an energetic and experienced advocate and change agent for design practices which integrate sustainability and resilience – from projects to policy. With the AIA’s refreshed focus on design’s powerful potential for positive outcomes for equity and the environment, the BSA is poised to emerge as the forum to foster connections between the professionals who know the built environment, the communities with which we work, and the cities, places, and landscapes we call home.

As Sustainability Coordinator for Sasaki, a global interdisciplinary practice, Alison inspires integrated design teams to deliver sustainable design outcomes for a wide-range of projects that include planning, urban design, landscape, ecology, architecture, and interiors. In addition, Alison guides and contributes to workflows and analysis tools to lower embodied and operational carbon and to advance healthy material selections across Sasaki’s built projects. Alison is a contributor and technical advisor for Sasaki’s Carbon Conscience open source tool; the next version will include embodied carbon comparisons of building renovation and reuse at the planning-scale.

Excited about the opportunity of Sasaki’s new location in Boston to reinforce the BSA’s mission and to engage with Boston’s communities, Alison pledges to leverage her deep and varied leadership and change management experience, and proven ability to bring people together around challenging issues to benefit BSA’s membership. By listening and centering the lived experience of emerging professionals and new members from under-represented communities, Alison believes that an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming BSA will foster design cultures to enable us, together, to design a beautiful and regenerative future.

Biography

BSA/ AIA: BSA 10 years; AIA 16 years

Organizer/ Co-Panelist BSA’s DOER Stretch Code Series 2023
Guest Presenter, Sustainability Education Committee “Top 5 Metrics for all Projects Right Now” 2022
Panelist, “Integrating Sustainability Into Practice,” ABX 2020, NESEA Building Energy Conference 2021, BE+ Women in Green Roundtable Panel, 2021
Speaker, “Designing Your Career Path through Equity, Engagement, and Leadership”, AIA QUAD Conference, Albany NY 2017
BSA Board of Directors, 2021 - present
BSA Board of Directors Membership Committee, Advocacy Committee, Editorial Committee
Reviewer & Contributor, AIA National Design for Excellence Framework - Ecology 2023, Economy 2020
Juror, BSA Sustainable Design Awards 2020
Co-Chair, Women in Design Events Subcommittee 2014 - 2016
Chair, Sustainable Design Leaders Network - Boston, Carbon Leadership Forum Boston Reuse Committee, MA Net Zero Building Coalition, Building Green National Sustainable Design Leaders Peer Network
Co-Chair EZ Residential Net Zero Code task force, Contributor, BPDA Zero Net Carbon Zoning Initiative TAG: Embodied Carbon, Guest Critic Northeastern University, Department of Architecture, final reviews 2019, 2020

Awards:
BE+ MA CEC Embodied Carbon Challenge Award of Merit: Amherst College 2024, MA CEC Triple Decker Challenge Competition Winner “Bring Your Own Building” 2021, AIA Henry Adams Certificate of Merit 2013

Graduate School Leadership, Cornell University (2010 - 2014):
Cornell University Dean’s Council committee lead designer, Glow Truck (AAP Food Truck) project
Student Editor, The Cornell Journal of Architecture
Elected Field of Architecture Representative, GPSA
Graduate Student Representative, Means Restriction (for gorge bridges) Design Committee
Graduate Student Member of AAP Academic Integrity Board
Graduate Representative, AAP Dean’s Council
Elected Humanities Voting Member, GPSA
Graduate Student Voting Member Representative, Campus Infrastructure Committee
Elected MArch Representative, Department of Architecture

Gabriela Baierle AIA
Associate Principal, Strategic Practice Manager, Utile

Candidate statement

I have been committed to bettering the BSA for my entire time as an active member, knowledge community participant, and elected committee member. If selected as a Director, I hope to steer the BSA towards expanding its relevance for local practicing architects; establishing a consistent discourse around design and expertise, especially in Boston; and bridging an important gap between national and local institutions that represent the profession to the public at large. I would also work so that these three mission-critical goals are shaped by new and diverse voices that more equitably represent the future of architecture.

Biography

Assistant Professor, Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Professional Practice II

Previously: Adjunct Faculty at Boston Architectural College and University of Minnesota - Graduate Studios, Undergraduate Vertical Workshop

BSA: Nominating Committee, 2021-2023; Emerging Professionals Network co-chair, 2018-2020; Now Practice Now Series steering committee, 2017; BSA member, 2016.

AIA: AIA MA Architect Licensing Advisor, 2016-2019; contributor to AIA Connection and College of Fellows Quarterly newsletter.

NCARB: Education Committee, 2021; Think Tank, 2015.

Calvin Boyd II, AIA
Associate, PAYETTE, Boston, MA

Candidate Statement

I’m honored to be nominated for the BSA/AIA Board of Directors. I trust my early and active BSA involvement, from serving on the Ethics Committee to co-chairing the EDI Network, reflects my dedication to re-positioning our profession as a trailblazer in social change. I also believe that Boston, with its unique social, climate, and housing-related challenges is fertile ground for our new visionary executive director and a well-rounded board to tactically implement solutions that have impact beyond our state lines. The BSA is at a pivotal moment, and I plan to take part as an advisor, connector, and leader.

Biography

Member, AIA, 2021 – Present; Elected Member, BSA Ethics Committee, 2022 – 2024; Co-Chair, BSA EDI Network, 2023 – 2024; Member, BSA Executive Director Search Committee, 2024; Juror, BSA Design Awards, Unbuilt Work, 2022; Member, Built Environment Plus (BE+) Board of Directors Nominating Committee, 2023; Co-Chair, BSA Race & Architecture Committee, 2021; Member, NOMA & BosNOMA, 2020 – Present; Adjunct Faculty, Wentworth Institute of Technology, 2023; Communications Chair, GSD NOMAS, 2020; Volunteer, YouthBuild Boston, 2022 – 2023; Volunteer, Beyond Walls, 2021; Master of Architecture I, Harvard GSD, 2017 – 2021; James Templeton Kelley Thesis Prize, BSA / Harvard GSD, 2021; B.S. Architectural Studies, USC, 2012 – 2016.

Juliet J. Chun AIA
Senior Associate, Leers Weinzapfel Associates, Boston, MA

Candidate statement

I am deeply honored by the nomination to run for a position on the Board of Directors at the BSA. As an advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, I am eager to bring my expertise and passion. The board has the challenging task of not only fulfilling and supporting the mission of the BSA, but also advancing its vision and goals as the world and the architectural community evolves around us. As a candidate, I am committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive architectural community and to empowering all members through active engagement and leadership. Thank you for your consideration.

Biography

BSA Member since 2018; BSA Nominating Committee 2020-2023; BSA EDI Task Force 2020; AIA Honorary Membership Jury 2021; Boston Architectural College Studio Instructor and Thesis Advisor 2012-2014; Studio Critic at BAC, WIT, Northeastern University, Pratt Institute; Beverly Willis Tribune Award 2019; AIA Young Architects Award 2020

Tom Chung FAIA
Principal, Leers Weinzapfel Associates

Candidate statement

I am passionate about promoting the value of design to the public, leading our profession to build evermore sustainably, mentoring our emerging professionals, educating our students and advocating for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Cyrus P. Dahmubed Assoc. AIA
Associate, Director of Research, Utile

Candidate Statement

I am honored to have been nominated for the Ethics Committee and have been a BSA member since 2015, with previous BSA engagement long before that from the time I was a teenager. I believe the Ethics Committee has a key role to play in building and maintaining trust within and beyond the profession. I look forward to building this trust by reviewing and addressing concerns to ensure the proper application of the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in a way that is fair to all parties. I am a leader of Utile’s grassroots Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiative, which seeks to establish new frameworks for translating equity- and justice-centered office operations into design processes and outputs that create actively anti-racist environments and as the chair of the Boston Children’s Chorus’s Governance Committee, I have undertaken detailed and nuanced bylaw review to ensure the appropriate application of rules and guidelines, working with lawyers to address and resolve ambiguities in the language.

If selected for the Ethics committee, I hope to:

• Advocate for improved knowledge and understanding of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct amongst members to help proactively avoid ethical issues, especially amongst emerging professionals
• Work collaboratively with other committee members to address ethical issues with empathy, and make recommendations to the BSA Board with clear and fair communication
• Express the importance and value of ethical conduct as the basis for a successful and professional career and industry

Biography

Cyrus P. Dahmubed is an Associate and the Director of Research at Utile where he champions the transformation of the built environment into a platform for a more just, equitable, and liberated world. Through his work, teaching, and service to design and local communities through organizations like NCARB, Out in Design, BosNOMA, and the Boston Children’s Chorus, he centers community and mentorship through a design-thinking approach that supplants systems of injustice with processes for achieving equity.

Cyrus is a leader of Utile’s grassroots Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiative, which is core input in Utile’s work as it creates new tools and frameworks for design decisions.

Cyrus joined Utile in 2018 after receiving a Master of Architecture degree and Alpha Rho Chi Medal from Northeastern’s School of Architecture, where he served as the chapter President of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the founding editor and curator of the colloquium and publication, Common Ground, and in other service and teaching positions. Prior to Utile, he worked at Hacin + Associates and was the Editor-in-Chief of AIAS’s journal CRIT, overseeing the publication’s editorial and graphic overhaul.

In 2021, Cyrus joined the Board of the Boston Children’s Chorus and NCARB’s Licensure Candidates Think Tank. He has taught studio and seminar courses at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Boston Architectural College and has served as a reviewer at these schools, Harvard’s GSD, Boston University, and others. He is active with BosNOMA, Out in Design, and Future Architects of the Middle East (FAME).

BSA member since 2015; Boston Children’s Chorus Board of Directors 2022-present, Governance Committee Chair 2022-present; NCARB Licensure Candidates Think Tank 2021-2022; Boston Architectural College Adjunct Instructor 2022, 2024; Wentworth Institute of Technology Adjunct Instructor 2021; AIAS CRIT Scholar Research Advisor 2019; AIAS CRIT Journal Editor-in-Chief 2018; Graduate Liaison to Northeastern University CATLR (Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research), 2017-2018; NCARB Student Licensing Advisor, 2017-2018; AIAS Northeastern University Chapter President, 2017-2018; Common Ground Graduate Colloquium Series + Publication Founding Editor + Curator, 2015-2018

Andre A. Vega AIA
Senior Associate, Moody Nolan, Boston MA

Candidate Statement

I am very interested in the BSA’s commitment and focus on ethics and professional conduct. The potential to help provide guidance and ensure that professionals are observing and being held to a high ethical standard is very exciting to me.

Biography

Andre is a licensed, practicing architect and Senior Project Manager for Moody Nolan, Inc. The largest black owned architectural firm in the United States. In his capacity as Sr. PM, he oversees the production and completion of large-scale projects for the firm in Boston and across the country. Andre also serves as the Operations Lead for the Moody Nolan Boston office.

Prior to Joining Moody Nolan, Andre was the Director of Capital Projects and Construction for Suffolk University in Boston, Mass. In this role he oversaw and managed all the built assets of the campus which comprised of 10 buildings in downtown Boston and the athletic facilities in East Boston. Planning and executing all capital construction projects for the university as well as managing the deferred maintenance projects.

Before joining Suffolk University and practiced architecture for several firms in and around the Boston area. For the first 12 years of his career, he worked on K-12 public schools in Massachusetts. He then focused on higher education athletic and recreational facilities for the next 10 years, becoming a “sports specialist”.

Andre is a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology, in Boston, where he received his Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree. He is a founding member of Boston’s National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Chapter BosNOMA and served as the chapter’s first president for 6 years. In 2010, when the Boston chapter hosted the National NOMA Conference & Expo, he served as the Conference Co-Chair. Andre also served as an Adjunct Professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2010-2011 teaching a freshman design course for the architecture program.

Vital Albuquerque AIA
Senior Associate, Perkins&Will; Adjunct Faculty, Roger Williams University

Candidate Statement

Architecture's challenges and processes are ever evolving, but the beneficial and long-lasting impact that innovative, thoughtful design has on our communities is consistent. I would be honored to partner with my BSA colleagues on the Honors & Awards Committee to encourage diverse perspectives, celebrate emerging talent, recognize the collaborative efforts of design teams and their committed clients, and to champion elegant work that provides an equitable and sustainable future. I believe my consistent dedication to design excellence and broad range of experience will provide a unique perspective and commitment to this endeavor, and I thank you for your consideration.

Biography

BSA/AIA Member since 2008; Director, Kyu Sung Woo Architects 2006-2018; Senior Associate, Perkins&Will 2018-current; Adjunct Faculty, Roger Williams University 2022-current; Adjunct Professor & Thesis Advisor, Boston Architectural College 2005-2009; Boston Center for the Arts Campus Visioning Committee Member; Presenter, Roger Williams University; Presenter, SCUP Regional Conference; Design Critic at Harvard GSD, MIT, Columbia, Northeastern, BAC, Wentworth, RWU; LEED Accredited Professional LEED AP 2010-current; MCPPO certified 2020-current.

Darguin Fortuna AIA
Principal, Flow Design Architects

Candidate Statement

I’ve faced challenges in the AEC industry due to a lack of diversity and barriers related to color, age, and background. I’ve actively worked to change this by founding Flow Design Architects and creating award-winning initiatives like “The Change We Seek.” My work demonstrates a commitment to recognizing excellence beyond traditional metrics. As a small firm principal and AIA leader, I bring a fresh perspective to the Honors and Awards Committee, advocating for more inclusive recognition that honors the diverse efforts of all architects, not just those who are already well-known.

I have faced and overcome barriers in the AEC industry due to my background, and I’m committed to creating a more inclusive profession. I've actively advocated for diversity and inclusion. As a small firm principal and AIA leader, I aim to push beyond traditional boundaries and uplift underrepresented voices. This nomination is a step toward broader recognition for all. Let’s champion the change we seek together.

Biography

Darguin Fortuna, AIA, NCARB, is a distinguished architect originally from Jima Abajo, La Vega, Dominican Republic. He has made significant strides in the field of architecture, becoming the first Dominican-born architect to win the prestigious 2024 Young Architect Award in Washington, DC. Fortuna is also a recipient of the 2022 AIA Film Challenge People’s Choice Award for his impactful film, "The Change We Seek."

Fortuna graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Boston Architectural College, where he was awarded the Henry Adams Medal and Certificate, the Dean Arcangelo Cascieri Award, and the Emerging Designer Award. He also holds high honors from North Shore Community College and completed coursework at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo.

As a founding principal of Flow Design Architects, based in Massachusetts with an expanded presence in the Dominican Republic, Fortuna has led a multidisciplinary practice recognized for its innovative and inclusive approach. His leadership has helped the firm gain recognition and a substantial following, including over 20,000 active subscribers on their YouTube channel.

Fortuna’s work has been featured in several publications, and he has received numerous accolades, including the Boston Magazine's Rising Star Award, the Latino Excellence Award from the Boston State House, and the Latino Excellence Award from the Boston State Senate. His commitment to community service and mentorship continues to inspire and shape the future of architecture.

Member of AIA and BSA since 2018; Juror, BSA Small Residential Projects Award, 2022; Board Member, AIA Small Firm Exchange (2022 – 2024); Executive Committee Member, AIA Small Firm Exchange, 2024; Elected Board Member, AIA Small Firm Exchange (2nd Term), 2025-2027; Young Architect State Representative, Massachusetts (two terms); Young Architect Forum Representative, Massachusetts, 2022-2023 & 2024-2025; Instructor, Boston Architectural College; Tutor, Boston Architectural College; Fellow, Latinos For Education; Member, Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE).

Gerard Georges Assoc. AIA

Estelle Yoon
Designer, Höweler and Yoon Architecture, Boston, MA

Candidate statement

I hope to serve on the Nominating Committee to help BSA establish a robust group of board leadership, an open platform for diverse voices, and an engaging community of practicing architects.

Biography

Designer, Höweler and Yoon Architecture, Boston, MA; Research Collaborator, i.e. Studio, Boston, MA; Guest Instructor, Practice Sessions, University of Michigan School of Architecture 2022; Instructor, Design Discovery, Harvard Graduate School of Design 2019

Master of Architecture with Distinction, Harvard Graduate School of Design 2020; Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2016

Katherine Chin AIA
Architect and Associate at Perkins&Will

Candidate Statement

I believe that creating an inclusive and engaged network of emerging and experienced design professionals builds meaningful connections across disciplines and in our communities. If elected to the membership committee, I will support mentorship and education opportunities for continuous learning to navigate our evolving industry and to help us give back to others. I am committed to amplifying diverse voices within our profession and strengthening our ability to collectively enrich the built environment and uplift neighborhoods in ways that are equitable, sustainable, and impactful.

Biography

BSA and AIA member since 2018;

BSA Women In Design Mid-Career Mentorship Program Member;

BSA EPNet Feedback Mentorship Program Member;

BSA EPNet Leadership Lunch Member;

BSA Build Yourself Workshop Series;

Public Installation Artist with the Asian Community and Development Corporation in Boston Chinatown, Somernova in Somerville, Fort Point Arts Community, and ILLUMINUS in Downtown Boston

Sindu Meier AIA

At William Rawn Associates, Sindu has managed several of the firm’s highest profile projects, including the historic Central Library transformation for the Boston Public Library (2017 Harleston Parker Medal and AIA/ALA Award) and the Taussig Cancer Center at the Cleveland Clinic. Over her 26 years in architecture including 12 years at William Rawn Associates, Sindu completed the Net-Zero Emissions and LEED v.4 Platinum King Open/Cambridge Street Upper Schools and Community Complex which received a 2022 AIA COTE Top Ten Award and the 2022 AIA Education Facility Award. Sindu completed the South Residential Village at Case Western Reserve University – a 600 bed community to improve the Second Year experience. She is also leading the Boston Museum of Science Blue Wing Transformation to reimagine the visitor experience and welcome all to engage in “Science at the Pace of Change”.

Sindu serves as a Library Trustee for the town of Milton, MA and will be completing her term on the Board of the Boston Society for Architecture. She will be serving on the Host Committee for AIA ’25 as the BSA prepares for the convention in Boston next June. Sindu was the Inaugural Chair of the Society of Indo-American Architects and Designers. Sindu is committed to promoting the profession through the BSA, her architectural projects, and her efforts with the regional architectural schools.

Emily Miyares AIA
Associate, PAYETTE, Boston MA

Candidate Statement

I’m honored to be nominated for the BSA Membership Committee. I believe that excellence in Architecture requires an inclusive and engaged community of practitioners; and understand that mutual trust is the cornerstone of consensus and positive change. I am committed to strengthening the BSA’s community by seeking out overlooked perspectives, actively engaging with feedback, and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. This work is central to building a resilient and forward-thinking profession, and I would be thrilled to contribute my energy and enthusiasm towards that goal.

Biography

Member, AIA, 2017- present; Member, BSA, 2018-present; President, Friends of the Somerville Public Library Board of Directors 2022-present (Member 2021-2022), President, University of Virginia Young Alumni Committee 2014-2020. PAYETTE: Co-chair, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, 2020-present; Member, Spatial Equity Research Group, Licensing Advisor 2020-present; M.Arch University of Virginia, B.A. Williams College.

Shirine S. Boulos Anderson AIA

Candidate Statement

Shirine is highly committed to advancing design technologies that decarbonize the building sector to broadly achieve carbon neutrality in the near future, imparting to her students this fundamental understanding to inform their future practice. She explores these themes drawing from different disciplines (energy use in buildings, migration and urbanization, government policy), and knitting them into a complete picture that informs environmental, urban and building design.

Shirine is committed to integrating in her work a deep understanding of Climate Change and its impact on populations, cities and rural environments, and the social and environmental inequities that are exacerbated by it.

Biography

BSA and AIA Member since 1985.

Lecturer at Wentworth Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Design.

Co-Chair of the Global Design Initiative for Refugee Children, a Knowledge Community of the BSA and BSLA.

Former Design and Managing Principal at Ellenzweig, Sustainable Design Leader and Practice Leader, 1998-2023.

Cornell University President’s Council of Cornell Women Emerita (PCCW) 2011-2013.

Master of Architecture in Urban Design, and Bachelor of Architecture, Cornell University.