OAA jury

An architect, medical planner, educator, and organizational strategist whose practice lives at the intersection of design excellence, social impact, and systems change. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, her career spans two decades across global design firms, academic institutions, and grassroots coalitions.

She is the AIA 2026 President-Elect and will serve as AIA President in 2027. The first Latina and neurodivergent woman elected to this role, she is leading the AIA into an era centered on restoring joy, humanity, and awe to the profession. Her platform reconnects practitioners with why they entered the field in the first place.

An award-winning architect and design leader with more than three decades of experience shaping projects across the globe. His multidisciplinary background spans master planning, urban design, architecture, interiors, furniture, and digital experience design—each unified by a belief that design can inspire, connect, and transform communities.

Before founding atelierMIDE, Mide held senior leadership roles with renowned international firms including CallisonRTKL (Arcadis), HOK, and Gensler, and most recently served as Design Director at Perkins&Will in Houston, Texas. His work is distinguished by its synthesis of cultural insight, design rigor, and human-centered innovation

Tamarah is a member of the Navajo Nation and has over 16 years of experience working with Native American tribes on public safety, judicial, educational, housing projects, gaming, and her recent work for the Navajo Nation has focused on feasibility studies and master planning. She brings her broad expertise in cultural sensitivity to strengthen the design of projects with Native American tribes. As a founding member of the American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers, Tamarah has long been committed to mentoring junior Native American office staff and students.

Aik is a Senior Associate in Perkins&Will’s Vancouver studio, leading major commercial, mixed‑use residential, and hospitality projects. Drawing from a globally diverse upbringing, he brings a well‑rounded perspective to both design and decision‑making, guiding teams toward clear, conceptually grounded solutions.

A Senior Manager at Nassau BOCES Facilities Services, coordinating the school’s capital and operational projects serving Nassau County school districts.

Graciela is also the Co-Founder of the Immigrant Architects Coalition, a non-profit organization committed to helping immigrant architects in the US. 

Graciela has been involved with the AIA at the local, state, and national levels, currently serving as AIA New York State representative and 2024 Moderator for the AIA National Strategic Council, the AIA LI Chapter’s Women In Architecture Co-Founder and Co-Chair, and 2025-2027 At Large Director at AIA Board.