As we enter the home stretch of 2025, we are proud of the incredible work being championed by our amazing members. In order to continue advocating for architecture and amplifying the power of design, our committees are looking for fresh energy and talent to support these efforts. In the section below, you will find descriptions of open volunteer opportunities across the various committees.

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Committee on Architecture for Education

Committee Description: The Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) is concerned with the quality and design of all types of educational, cultural, and recreational facilities. It is a forum for architects, educators, and civic leaders that promotes the exchange of ideas, best practices, and resources around learning environment design, and connection between school design and local neighborhoods.

Volunteer Opportunity: We are always looking to grow our membership base, so please consider joining us for a future committee meeting to see what we are all about and fill out an interest form to receive additional information. Additionally, we have the following volunteer opportunities available:

• Co-chair – Facilitate meetings and plan committee related events

• Coordinate Monthly Meeting Project Spotlights – 8-9 times a year the CAE monthly meetings feature a short, informal presentation about a project such as K-12 schools, community centers, career centers, higher education, athletics and other related project types. Volunteers can help identify and contact firms to present, coordinate publicity with the chapter and on social media, and introduce the presenters at monthly meetings. Total time commitment per presentation is 4-5 hours and the CAE will provide a checklist and guidance for how to organize the presentations.

• Coordinate Building Tours – 3-4 times a year the CAE organizes tours of local projects of interest. Projects can be in construction (hard hat tours) or completed and in use. Volunteers help identify potential projects, contact and coordinate the tour with the responsible architecture firm, assist in engaging sponsors for the tour, assist in preparing information for continuing education credits, and coordinating with chapter staff for registration and publicity. Total time commitment per tour is approximately 10-15 hours and the CAE will provide a checklist and guidance for how to organize the tours. Multiple volunteers can partner to share the tasks and reduce individual time commitments. 

Contact: Co-chairs Joseph McCoy at [email protected] and Matt Waguespack at [email protected]

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Community Service Committee

Committee Description: Currently, the committee’s primary focus is on the annual Canstruction® event.  Canstruction® is a global non-profit charity that aims to raise awareness about hunger through fun, local canned good design-build sculpture competitions. 

Volunteer Opportunity: We are always looking to grow our membership base, so please consider joining us for a future committee meeting to see what we are all about and fill out an interest form to receive additional information. We also have the position of co-chair available to help lead the committee alongside the current co-chair. Co-chair responsibilities include:

• Attend and run monthly Community Service Committee meetings
  • Help coordinate logistics for Canstruction®
  • Communicate with committee members, AIA NoVA Staff, and project stakeholders
  • Write monthly committee report
  • Serve a 2-year term to help with succession planning.

Contact:  Current Co-chair Bronwyn Redd at [email protected] with the subject line  “AIA NoVA Community Service.”

Custom Residential Architect Network

Committee Description: The Custom Residential Architect Network (CRAN) Committee brings together residential architects and consultants in the area to share knowledge and resources related to the industry.  The committee is part of the tri-chapter DC metro area CRAN. Each chapter plans one event a quarter, resulting in at least one event each month available for member participation.  

Volunteer Opportunity: Co-chair and future chair opportunities are available. Committee chairs are responsible for leading monthly meetings and planning quarterly events. In addition, we are always looking to grow our membership base, so please consider joining us for a future committee meeting to see what we are all about and fill out an interest form to receive additional information.

Contact: Current Chair Josh McKenrick at [email protected]

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Fellows Committee

Committee Description: The Fellows Committee cultivates engagement among Chapter Fellows, advances the mission of AIA, supports the profession, mentors emerging architects, and expands our collective service to society.

 Volunteer Opportunity: Members of the College of Fellows who are interested in contributing are warmly welcome to support:

  • Guiding AIA members through the College of Fellows application process.

• Answering questions year-round and host info sessions.

• Offering strategic advice on narratives, category selection, references, and  submission timelines to help candidates prepare successful applications.

Contact: Email [email protected] with the subject line “Fellows Committee Interest.” Include: your name, AIA membership number, Fellow status, areas of interest (mentoring, reviews, outreach), and typical availability.

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LGBTQIA+ Alliance

Committee Description: The LGBTQIA+ Alliance fosters a supportive and inclusive professional community for LGBTQIA+ architects and their allies in Northern Virginia, the DMV, and the Greater Virginia region through dialogue, advocacy, and networking. It hosts social events, workshops, and educational programs such as seminars, webinars, and panel discussions that provide opportunities to connect, share experiences, and learn. The committee also advocates for inclusive policies, partners with other organizations, and raises awareness to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion within the profession.

Volunteer Opportunity: While no other positions other than chair have been established at this time, we are looking to continue growing our membership base. Members of the LGBTQIA+ Alliance attend planning meetings and other events. They contribute their ideas, skills, and time to help further the committee’s mission. We welcome participation by members from outside the Northern Virginia area.

Get Involved:

• Register for an upcoming planning meeting
• Fill out the chapter interest form
• Email committee chair, Spencer Lepler at [email protected] or [email protected]

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Schools Connections Committee

Committee Description: The Schools Connections Committee (SCC) works with students of local architecture programs to support the transition from student to professional.

Volunteer Opportunity: We are always looking to grow our membership base. Committee members support co-chairs in planning and staffing committee related events. Please consider joining us for a future committee meeting to see what we are all about and fill out an interest form to receive additional information. Additionally, we have the following volunteer opportunity available:

• Graphics – Volunteers should be skilled in Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Bluebeam. They must be creative and excited about creating graphics to promote SCC events. They should attend SCC meetings and be open to communication by email about designs and the committee.

Contact: Co-chairs Jessica Somgynari at [email protected] and Sonia Jarboe at [email protected]

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Women In Architecture

Committee Description: The AIA NoVA Women In Architecture (WIA) committee strives to expand the diversity of the design professions; to mirror the society that we serve; to promote awareness of the contributions of women architects; to guide and encourage women to consider a career in architecture and allied fields.

Volunteer Opportunity: We are always looking to grow our membership base, so please consider joining us for a future committee meeting to see what we are all about and fill out an interest form to receive additional information. We also have the following leadership opportunities available:

• WIA Co-Chair – Women in Architecture co-chairs are set up for a two-year term so there is continuity and overlap in leadership as a new co-chair is brought on each year. Responsibilities include organizing, coordinating, and tracking all aspects of WIA from committee meeting planning boards, the meetings themselves, pop up lunches, book chats, 30×30, building tours, summer social, lecture series, holiday party, budget, sponsorship, maintaining the WIA contacts list, sending out calendar invites for meetings and other events, distribution of monthly meeting minutes and notification of various events, checking the WIA inbox and responding to emails, etc. This includes the required coordination with the Board, AIA NoVA, and potentially other committees.

• Secretary – Volunteers would be responsible for taking meeting minutes at the monthly WIA committee meetings and sending draft versions to the chairs for inclusion in post meeting emails to WIA members.

• Social Media – Volunteers would work with co-chairs to help schedule and post graphics and information on AIA NoVA’s Women in Architecture Instagram and LinkedIn accounts to publicize upcoming events.

• Graphics – Volunteers would use their creativity to create graphics for use in promoting events.

•  Event Coordination – The WIA hosts multiple events throughout the year and volunteers would support coordinating and communicating event logistics.

Contact:  Fill out this form to indicate interest in a volunteer role or contact [email protected]

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Young Architects Forum

Committee Description: The Young Architects Forum (YAF) supports emerging professionals—from recent graduates to those 10 years post-licensure—within the AIA NoVA community. We offer networking, mentoring, and ARE prep opportunities through thoughtfully curated events that foster connection and growth. Most importantly, we create opportunities to build meaningful relationships with peers in our industry in a fun and engaging way.

Volunteer Opportunity: The Social Media Outreach Coordinator will create graphics for upcoming events, post on social media, send email reminders to YAF committee members, and share events with firm leaders. In addition, we are always looking to grow our membership base, so please consider joining us for a future committee meeting to see what we are all about and fill out an interest form to receive additional information.

Contact: Co-chairs  Elizabeth Parry  at [email protected] and Tom Becherer at [email protected]