Grassroots 2022

Opening Night General Session

Swearing in New Board Ceremony
Keynote Lakisha Woods
Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, is the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a dynamic network of more than 94,000 architects and design professionals throughout 200 chapters committed to enhancing the built environment.
Woods previously served as President & CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) from 2018 – to 2022. She led efforts to expand the organization’s programs and markets while growing and strengthening its membership base.
Prior to joining NIBS, she was the Sr. VP & Chief Marketing Officer at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), where she oversaw a 27-member team responsible for all marketing and revenue-generating programs – including sponsorship sales and partnerships with major national companies.
Woods currently serves on the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Board of Directors as Chair of the Foundation and Chair-Elect of the ASAE Board and on the MPI Advisory Board. She also previously served as Vice-Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors and on the Advisory Board of Crosswalk and is a global speaker. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in College Park and lives with her husband and daughter in Howard County, Maryland.

There are few landmarks in DC that have deeply impacted the city as much as the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Join architects Steven Davis, FAIA, and Peter Cook, FAIA, NOMA, of Davis Brody Bond and HGA and Aki Carpenter from Ralph Appelbaum Associates in a discussion about the history, creation, conceptualization, and design of the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. After this discussion, students will be able to individually tour the galleries, ask questions, and experience this cultural phenomenon.

Block Party at the AIA Building

A Career Expo. The Say It Loud Exhibition. A barbecue. A DJ. The Leadership Session. The biggest annual group photo of the AIAS- need we say more! Join us for the largest AIAS party of the year to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and become a part of this network (family)!

Closing General Session

Officer Keynotes

Shannon DeFranza, AIAS, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, has dedicated her life to the service of others and bettering the world. With a background studying international relations, human rights, and climate disasters, Shannon graduated from the Honors Program of Roger Williams University, with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 2021. For the last year Shannon has served as the 2021-2022 National Vice President of the AIAS, Student Director for the ACSA, and previously served as the Northeast Quad Director for AIAS. Through public speaking, mentorship, and advocacy, Shannon works to change design education and the profession, to properly equip and empower the next generation so that we may address widespread climate change through an equity lens, universally use sustainable building practices, and better our mental health protections. Believing that architecture is just one small piece to better our society, outside of architecture, Shannon has worked on behalf the Non-Profit, Scholars at Risk, to advocate for the release of wrongfully imprisoned scholars.

Scott Cornelius, AIAS, Assoc. AIA, is a vocal advocate for change in design education and in the field of architecture. Through his work for a healthier and more positive Learning and Teaching Culture, advocacy focused on architectural curricula and policy, and dedication to mentorship and belief that design students will shape our society, Scott works to empower students to shift the narrative surrounding architecture and the built environment.
Scott served as the 2020-2021 South Quad Director of the AIAS, and is currently serving as the 2021–2022 National President in Washington, DC. Originally from Canyon, Texas, Scott received his B.Arch from Oklahoma State University in 2021.