Each month, the AIAS highlights the outstanding dedication and accomplishments of one of its members. The Chapter Leader of the Month can be a Chapter President or any member who has shown tremendous leadership.

 

   

August 2025 Chapter Leader of the Month: Vanesa Molina

The Woodlands College Park High School

Vanesa Molina is a senior at The Woodlands College Park High School and she’s planning on starting her journey through architecture school this fall. She has been an AIAS member since her sophomore year of high school, and chapter president since her junior year.

“I’ve been in AIAS since my sophomore year of high school and president since my junior year, and it helped me realize I wanted to be an architect! […] AIAS at the high school level is so important to shaping future architects. Because there isn’t much funding towards high school AIAS, we don’t have many resources but we make do with what we have, and create engaging projects that teach students how to use their minds creatively and execute projects resourcefully. One of my favorite small projects I’ve done was taking a pringle can and transforming it into a new building. Students made skyscrapers, castles, cottages, etc., learning how to put their creativity to life. I’m so thankful I have been chosen as Chapter Leader of the Month and I encourage college chapters and AIA to collaborate more with high school chapters!”

During her time as a leader with the AIAS, she has worked on impactful initiatives with her community, such as an architectural mentoring program (Speed Mentoring) in collaboration with TAMU AIAS and AIA Brazos under the leadership of Isabella Woodhead (TAMU career fair chair), and a coordinated Recruitmentand Informational event for CPHS students in collaboration with the AIAS chapter at Texas A&M, where other leaders such as Shelly Holliday, Ekaansh Kalra, Isabella Woodhead, and Junseok Lee have played a vital role in bringing this project to fruition.

Grantley Eastus, who nominated Nessa for this feature, highlighted his instrumental contributions in not only keeping his chapter alive, but also in empowering incoming generations to go beyond:

“When I think of a strong leader, a strong president of the AIAS club, I think of Vanesa Molina. She has always been so hardworking, and she has always put her all into the club at our school. She has brought our club from a small count of about 8 members, to now having a club of around 30. She has even gotten us in contact with a new program from someone from Columbia University. I believe no one else but Vanesa would be fit for the AIAS chapter leader of the month.”