I remember getting involved with my local AIA chapter fresh out of graduate school. At the time, my motivation was simple: free access to licensure study materials – an invaluable resource that ultimately helped me pass the exams. It didn’t take long to realize, however, that my AIA membership offered far more than just support in preparing for exams. Being an AIA member provided me opportunities to engage deeply and take on leadership roles for causes I genuinely cared about such as advocating for local urban design issues, advancing diversity within the profession, and mentoring emerging professionals.

Active committee involvement taught me the importance of setting clear goals and understanding the process required to achieve them. It also strengthened my communication skills as I quickly learned that meaningful, lasting impact is always a collective effort. Leading initiatives and committees helped me to further develop my organizational and leadership skills. Such opportunities to build and refine one’s skills are immensely valuable, especially as an emerging architect.

Now more than twenty years later, I feel even more strongly about the importance of AIA membership. Active involvement has allowed me to establish meaningful connections with architectural firms, consultants, contractors, and potential clients. The relationships formed through these initiatives have proved invaluable over the course of my career.

Beyond networking, the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter offers extensive opportunities for mentoring and helping to shape the future of our profession. Mentorship can take many forms from serving as a sounding board during committee discussions, to identifying sponsorship opportunities, to sharing professional experiences with younger practitioners. Simply being present, engaged, and willing to contribute is the ultimate form of mentorship that is essential to the continued strength and prosperity of the architecture profession.

I invite you to visit the AIA Northern Virginia website to learn more about membership and getting involved. We host a wide range of committees, ensuring there is something for every interest and career stage. If you’re curious but not quite ready to commit to a committee, we also have several exciting events coming up in the new year that anyone is welcome to attend.

Whether you’re fresh out of school, an emerging professional, or a registered architect who is not yet an AIA member, I strongly encourage you to explore what AIA Northern Virginia has to offer and join us in the year ahead.

– Jin Park, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

Co-chair Committee on the Environment (COTE)
Secretary AIA Northern Virginia