Trailer: The Importance of Networking

For four years now, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, has been a priority in C-Suites everywhere. Not only is it considered the right thing to do, but to do business in the corporate, nonprofit, or government sectors, a clear, actionable DEI policy has been a necessity. However, in recent months, there has been a softening of that stance, which led us to wonder “Is DEI Still a Priority? Join “Can You Hear Me?” co-hosts Rob Johnson and Eileen Rochford as they welcome special guest Kimberly Dowdell, President of the American Institute of Architects, the AIA.

Meet our Guest: Kimberly Dowdell

Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, is the 2024 President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Dowdell is also a principal with global design firm HOK, serving as firmwide director of strategic relationships. In 2019-2020, Dowdell served as national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).

Dowdell has devoted her career to laying foundations for architects to create positive social and environmental change on a local, national and global scale. She has intentionally connected a diverse array of built environment stakeholders to help advance her professional mission, which is “to improve people's lives, by design."

At HOK, Dowdell co-chairs the firm’s Diversity Advisory Council (DAC) and co-founded HOK Impact, the firm’s social responsibility program. She also co-founded Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED), an organization that promotes design for healthy communities in 2005. Dowdell earned her Master of Public Administration at Harvard and her Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell, where she was elected by her fellow alumni to serve on the board of trustees in 2022.

Recommended Resources

• National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) [LINK]
• The Directory of African American Architects [LINK]
• American Institute of Architects - Championing Chief Architects [LINK]
• Scott Page - The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies [LINK]
• Crain's Chicago Business - The DEI backlash has come for Chicago C-suites [LINK]
• Washington Post - DEI is getting a new name, and it dumps the political baggage [LINK]

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