Equity in Practice: NOMA HBCU Professional Development Program

Supporting the ideals of a prosperous and successful profession starts with a step toward justice and equity. The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Professional Development Program accomplishes exactly that, by advancing the promise to diversify the architectural profession. Inspired by Moody Nolan’s CEO, Jonathan Moody, in the Architects Newspaper webinar titled “Concrete Steps to Improve Racial Equity in the Architectural Workplace”, co founders Melvalean McLemoreCantina, AIA, NOMA, Anzilla Gilmore, FAIA, NOMA, and Zhetique Gunn, Assoc. AIA, NOMA launched into action. They devoted months developing national relationships to advance student access and exposure to architectural practice. Moody left listeners with the charge that for our industry to acquire more racial diversity, it is imperative to increase the number of touch points with HBCUs. With NOMA’s Professional Development Program (PDP) now wrapping up its second year, the program’s impact is only getting started.

Program History and Goals

Historically Black Colleges and Universities were established in the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, are defined as “…any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans…”. These programs have a well-known history of contributions and advancements to the nation and beyond and foster a sense of belonging, culture, and recognition. Currently, 101 HBCUS remain today, with seven NAAB-accredited programs that represent 5% of the 139

NAAB-accredited schools. Tuskegee University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Morgan State University, the University of the District of Colombia, and Prairie View A&M University. Each of these programs has partnered with NOMA and the NOMA Charitable Education Foundation to foster direct opportunities with architecture firms to engage in mentorship, recruiting, and general networking for talented and underrepresented students studying architecture.

The HBCU PDP has three primary goals:

1. To help students and HBCUs build a pipeline with awardwinning firms across the country that have expressed interest in advancing diversity in the profession.

2. To support students from HBCUs in securing entry level positions with these large-scale architecture firms.

3. To develop a community of professionals in architecture that will continue to support diversity within the profession through continued mentorship of minorities working in the profession.

In the 2021-2022 Program year, there were 68 cohort members, with 120 participating firm representatives and volunteers and 9 Prescott Reavis* grants awarded totaling $14,100. Most notably, in addition to the success of the program, 43% of the cohort secured an internship or full-time position.

I had the opportunity to speak with PDP leaders and beneficiaries across the country to hear more of their experience with the program and their inspiration for the profession ahead:

Alexis Adjorlolo (AA): As an architectural graduate of Prairie View A & M School of Architecture. Her efforts in student activities has led her to participate in the summer 2021 fellowship with Gensler, where she collaborated with her team and associates to research the human experience in the workplace setting; served as a board member of Prairie View AIAS, President of Prairie View NOMAS, and Secretary Prairie View WIA; She completed a furniture exhibition for the Brazos County African American Museum In Brazos, Texas with the Texas A&M University College of Architecture. The exhibition was highlighted in the Texas A&M Round Table with Chancellor John Sharp. Alexis’s most recent architectural position has been interning with PGAL working closely with her principal and lead architect on assessing complex program requirements for government facilities in Conroe, Tx. She currently works for the EPC company, KBR. Her interests lie in the fundamentals of leadership in minority spaces and the importance of having these voices heard in the architectural industry. Alexis hopes to expand on the skills learned through these experiences through licensure, design, and collaboration.

Soleil Sipes: (SS): Emerging Professional and Graduate student of Prairie View A&M University. She has served in a multitude of organizations including Habitats for Humanity, The National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB), The National Trust for Prehistoric Preservation, The American Institute of Architects(AIA). Also she has served as a leader with the PVAMU Women in Architecture (WiA), and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). With a strong passion for leadership and service within the community, Soleil strives towards helping other students following a similar path who may not be aware of all the resources that are available for them. Her goals include being a well-rounded and talented individual where she can showcase her talents in many circumstances. She believes in staying true to who you are, and always keeping your end goal in mind. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”, meaning that the words and actions you choose to put in this world have a significant impact following.

Nea Maloo, FAIA: Nea is an award-winning educator and currently teaches building science, and professional practice classes at Howard University. Her research includes the intersection of reducing carbon footprint and environmental justice. She is a robust role model and has presented at several local and national conventions on architecture, women, equity, decarbonization, and sustainability and was recently elevated to the Fellow is AIA.

She is the founder and principal architect of Showcase Architects, an award-winning practice focused on environmental architecture, carbon planning, and biophilic design.

The Student and Educator Impact

Gabriella Bermea (GB): From your lens, how has the NOMA PDP benefited your development in the realm of professional practice, belonging, and improving the built environment?

AA: As a student, my involvement with The NOMA PDP program expanded my network to a variety of professionals that provided their experiences as designers and how to adapt to the changing industry. It felt good to have these conversations with people that either just started in the field or have been practitioners for years and listening to honest opinions on our work and how to properly convey our concepts to market ourselves. I see that the value of this program prepares students for a world that will be challenging. Addressing people and environmental conditions, we are able to consider factors in our studio design that may have not been discussed with professors.

SS: The NOMA PDP has been a remarkable experience that has introduced me to emerging professionals in the field as well as other students from other HBCUs. This opportunity is unlike others, and it provides an environment that focuses on teaching aspiring professionals in the field of architecture. I’ve gained tons of new knowledge that I have implemented within my professional practice. Since the end of this cohort, I have recently been offered full time employment with Browne Mcgregor Architects Inc. Although I did not meet my employers through this experience, I used some of my learned skills through this program to help me secure this new opportunity. As a humble recipient of the Prescott Reavis Grant, I used the funds to further invest in my architectural studies, and I am currently pursuing graduate school at Prairie View A&M University. Being recognized by the amazing leaders of this cohort has also given me recognition within this community and has also opened new doors for myself. I’m truly thankful for this experience in its entirety, and I will continue to share my testimony to help others.

NM: I teach professional practice at Howard University, Washington DC. Our program primes HBCU students for leadership, creating an essential pipeline for diversity and environmental justice. Her inclusive teaching integrates global equity with climate action and transforms architectural education to advance the profession worldwide.I strongly believe education is the foundation for the next generation. Education needs to be multi-faceted, interdisciplinary, and collaborative to make students leaders of the profession. The NOMA PDP supports the diversity and mentorship essential for success in the profession.

GB: You’ve both now worked with some of the top firms in the nation and have been recognized for your exceptional contributions through scholarship and recognition. What would be your words of wisdom for students thinking about pursuing the program? And professionals interested in mentoring?

AA: Take advantage of as many opportunities that are presented to you. What I’ve done is ask myself “would I regret saying no or regret saying yes to something like this.” ‘This’ being the student organizations board positions, designing furniture for a historical museum, speaking/ introducing myself to an influential professional. More often than not the answer is no, I won’t regret putting myself out there.

SS: Understand that when you plant the seed, you don’t eat the fruit the same day”. Meaning, that all the hard work you implement in your life now, you will start to see your results in the future. College can be overwhelming at times, especially going through Covid, when I lost passion for pretty much everything. It took me failing 8 classes to really realize that if I continue this path of failure, that’ll be the result for my future. It took one day to really tap into myself and realize that if I want to accomplish my goals, I have to start today, and give it my all with no excuses. You may have the best, and most reasonable excuse.. but that still won’t push you forward. My old band director used to say, “We don’t wanna see excuses, we want to see results.” Hearing that everyday, you start to really understand, so I began implementing this tactic in my everyday life. Opportunities like the NOMA HBCU PDP don’t come everyday, and you shouldn’t miss out on an opportunity like this. This opportunity could be the beginning of what’s in store for your future.

GB: Your work is bountiful and sure to leave a lasting impact as the future of our profession. What does the future of architecture look like from your perspective? What are you most inspired by our profession and practice?

AA: I personally believe that the future in architecture is in government leadership or to heavily influence the policies that affect communities. The influence that architecture has in these spaces is often received positively. Examples I’ve seen of the positives that architecture has had on modern societies are present in the considerations of firms like BIG, Kere Architects, Adjaye Associates and other firms like them. The activism required to push the needle towards true sustainability (social, environmental, the larger picture) is something I hope to be a part of in the future.

SS: The future of architecture is limitless. With more things coming to light in this generation such as AI and improving technology, architecture could change completely from what we know. I’ve heard that lots of people are concerned for the stakes of architects soon, as AI has been improving every day, but I don’t believe that it’ll replace, but enhance our experience. I’m not sure what that’ll look like, but I’ll be interested to learn. I’m most inspired by everything! I don’t have one particular thing that I’m most excited about. I’m young, ambitious, and I’m always ready to learn and encounter new things.

NM: Professional practice is a life-long experience starting from communication and education skills in academia to the experience in practice. It is the essential course needed for students to practice. Students need compassion, mentorship, and skills; share your expertise, share lessons learned, help one student towards licensure one step, and keep finding time to encourage and give hope.

The Impact on Young Architects and Associates

GB: You both have played a large role in the success of the program and in diversifying the landscape of our profession. Can you describe your role and how you’ve prepared students for successful outcomes?

Ricardo Maga Rojas, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (RMR): Ricardo is an emerging professional with experience working on a range of projects, including higher education, commercial/office, and government. He is passionate about exploring the relationship between architecture and social issues and has been recognized as an emerging leader in the field of architecture. Ricardo is also a leader in his community, having founded a scholarship for architecture students, and served in several advisory and leadership roles at the state, national, and local levels of the AIA. He led the efforts to start the NOMA of Central Texas Chapter in 2020. Beyond work, Ricardo finds solace in Afro-Cuban folkloric music, dancing, and singing.

Melvalean McLemore-Cantina, AIA, NOMA, NCARB (MMC): With over 14 years in architectural practice, Melvalean McLemore, AIA, has led and designed mixed-use, commercial, residential, k12, and higher ed projects throughout her career. She is one of the first 500 licensed black women architects nationally and the 16th in Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from the University of Houston and is a Senior Associate and Texas Studio Design Leader at Moody Nolan.

She is an advocate for social justice through design and has spent many years volunteering for various community-based organizations in Houston. Melvalean enjoys collaborating with others and was a co-founder of AIA Houston’s Women in Architecture (WiA) Committee, co-chair of the Texas Society of Architect’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee for four years, and co-chair of WiA Houston’s Women of Color Steering Committee for three years. Notably, she co-created the NOMA National HBCU Professional Development Program in 2020, fostering connections between the AIA’s Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) members and architecture students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Her influence continues as President-Elect of AIA Houston’s Board, Parliamentarian for HNOMA, Vice-Chair of WiA Houston’s Women of Color Steering Committee, and a contributor to NCARB’s Continuing Education Committee. In 2022, she received the Early Career Achievement recognition from the Texas Society of Architects and AIA Houston’s Ben Brewer Young Architect Award in the present year. Beyond her architectural endeavors, Melvalean embraces roles as a wife, mother of two preschoolers, food enthusiast, and avid traveler.

MMC: When I conceived the idea for the program back in 2020, I was uncertain about how to transform it into a reality. Fortunately, I received immediate support from one of my mentors, Anzilla Gilmore, FAIA, NOMAC, who not only offered to leverage her extensive network to help the students find opportunities but also, without hesitation, said to count her in as she was an HBCU alumnus and knew firsthand of the challenges she faced when she finished school. She also brought on board Zhetique Gunn, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, who is an incredibly creative and talented person who happened to also be an HBCU alumnus and was the final piece to the puzzle that we needed to create the HBCU PDP. They became what I referred to as the “Dream Team” and it only got better when Ricardo joined us in 2022. In our inaugural year, when we opened Zoom for the first Speed Networking event, we were blown away to see so many students and firm leaders show up from around the country. In many ways, so much of our first year felt like a miracle as things just happened to work out. Nevertheless, we quickly realized that facilitating students’ preparation for success demanded more than merely offering a platform for them to engage with firms. At times, we found ourselves going beyond the call of duty to support students facing distinct challenges that impeded their progress. Some students flourished with minimal intervention, while others required a more hands-on approach.

Late into the program one student reached out to let us know that they had no success in securing follow-ups with any of the firms they had met with and asked for one-on-one mentorship from us. We met with this student for months after work for a couple of hours several times a week. We helped them drastically improve their resume and portfolio and they ended up getting one of the best job offers of that cohort. The program turned into a passion project for which we had not anticipated how much more rewarding the work would be than we had imagined.

RMR: My journey began with my participation in the 2020 Career Fair, where I was struck by its efficiency and felt compelled to contribute. Joining the HBCU PDP team in November 2022, I’ve taken on the role of coordinating seminars and involving volunteers from participating architectural firms. Collaborating with Melvalean, Anzilla, and Zhetique, I’ve been dedicated to preparing the next cohort and facilitating volunteer-led seminars. Stemming from Melvalean’s visionary initiative, I find deep honor in giving back to NOMA through this role. As a beneficiary of an HBCU education who has navigated the field of architecture, my contribution is humbling. Our mission centers on connecting HBCU students with industry professionals, extending mentorship beyond academia, providing employment prospects, and nurturing enduring bonds. Our commitment to student success and meaningful job opportunities is exemplified by our career fair and the volunteer-led seminars. We hold strong belief that program graduates will secure employment or establish mentor-guided trajectories, fostering professional parity.

GB: The NOMA HBCU PDP is a primary example of equity in action, demonstrating a reach that will open countless opportunities for students and families. What is the inspiration you would like to leave our readers with on empowering a program as powerful as this?

MMC: I believe it’s important to understand that equity is about the removal of barriers. Not everyone needs the same things to have access to the same opportunities. In the context of our initiative, the HBCU PDP helps to remove barriers that prevent students from having access to the opportunity to introduce themselves or get jobs at some of the largest and most reputable firms in the country, where they have been historically underrepresented. The origins of these barriers are diverse, encompassing factors such as exclusive recruitment from non-HBCU institutions by firms; firms citing isolated instances of unsuccessful HBCU hire- suggesting that this one student somehow represented all other HBCU students or that unsuccessful recruits do not happen at non-HBCUs (which we all know isn’t true); or relying on generalizations like “we recruit the best and brightest” without critically evaluating the biases inherent in their recruitment procedures that result in homogenous pools of labor resources. So, overcoming such barriers requires intentionality from our firms. Also, it is worth noting that access to opportunity does not guarantee success. In our program success depends on the ambition and drive of the students as well as the commitment of the firms to investing in their growth and professional development, while concurrently fostering inclusive and supportive environments.

RMR: The NOMA HBCU PDP radiates the potency of inclusiveness in action. My aspiration is that readers are stirred to embrace active participation—volunteering, extending job prospects, or sharing guidance. Your contribution holds the potential to mold these students into triumphant achievers. Seize the opportunity to forge connections with our students, be privy to their blossoming, and add to their odyssey. This program resonates as a powerful testament to the alchemy of equity and inclusivity within our realm.

Resources

1 NOMA HBCU Professional Development Program

2 “How HBCU’s Benefit Architects and Architecture” Architect Magazine, 2021.

3 Accredited HBCU Listing, US Department of Education

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