The AIAS strives to plan high-quality content, year after year, at our Grassroots conference, and part of that content is our incredible membership base and team. We want to ensure that you are always meeting some of the best and brightest in the architecture and design community. Meeting members like YOU in our community is one of the greatest experiences that you can have during your architectural career and there are so many people who will be attending Grassroots 2023, but today, we want to highlight some of the AIAS leaders that will be in attendance at the conference!
2022-2023 AIAS Board of Directors
“AIAS is more than an association; it’s a family, and you can feel that as soon as you meet your fellow members. Whether you’ve been to Grassroots or another AIAS conference before, or if this is your first, what you’ll find is a tremendously welcoming community–all you have to do is join us!”
– Larry Hoffer, AIAS Executive Director“Picture it: summertime in DC, and several hundred of your close good friends hanging out under the sun and learning what it means to be an empathetic, successful leader in the modern world. That’s what you get at Grassroots; nothing but good vibes, community-building, and inspiration as far as the eye can see. Grassroots has always been my favorite conference, and once you’ve experienced it, it’s easy to see why. I look forward to it every year. This is the sixth Grassroots I’ve attended, and I’m sure it’s going to be the best one yet.”– Cooper Moore, AIAS President
“This is my favorite summer conference to go to because all of my favorite chapters show up loud and proud in DC! It’s one of the main ways I get to see all the budding leadership come together to go over ideas for their school, the architectural profession, and AIAS. From real conversations with members and leaders about learning and teaching culture to how to celebrate each other’s success always gets me excited for what’s to come in the academic year.”
– Nicole Bass, AIAS Vice President“Grassroots, the root of the AIAS. What a fantastic time to learn about the organization and see the new leadership take the reins! I can’t wait to see all the new faces, and boy, am I excited for people to experience their first AIAS conference. I hope the weather participates with us this year, sorry for getting the Westie Besties rained on last year! I am looking forward to sharing many conversations about UN | REST and how we can bring these lessons home. See you all soon!”
– Tristan Osorio, AIAS West Quad Director
“Can’t wait for GR! What an amazing opportunity to come together and share ideas, learn, connect, and have fun. You are our future and we believe in you.”
– Anne Smith, FAIA, NCARB, LEED BD+C, NCARB Liaison to the AIAS Board
“Grassroots is the most exciting time for AIAS to storm together — to wrestle with the good things, bad things, and hard things about ourselves, our profession, and our world. It is a time when we ask, “so what?” and make change that has a lasting impact. I am looking forward to this Grassroots more than ever. ”
– Beth Lundell Garver, AIA, NCARB, ACSA Liaison to the AIAS Board
“Grassroots is the culmination of a year of hard work, dedication, and most importantly, FUN! Whether you will be like me, reminiscing on the “good ole days,” or if you are a new member just excited to see what the organization is all about, you will walk away from Grassroots having learned more about the field of architecture and its community, along with hundreds of other architecture students.”
– Ethan Sandburg, AIAS Midwest Quad Director
2023-2024 AIAS Board of Directors
“It’s wild to think that it is already time for Grassroots, but here we are! For me, Grassroots has always been a space to come together and celebrate the year we had, but also to get hyped up for the year to come. Both new and old leaders from chapters all over the world coming together to be empowered, engage in advocacy, and learn more about DC: what’s better than that? This year should be no different. The National Office has been working hard to put together an amazing conference and I can’t wait to see all of you there! Whether we have met before or not, please make sure to come say hello during the conference. (Also a shameless plug for the monuments tour, one of the BEST parts of every Grassroots, so make sure you make it out for that!!!)”
– Colt Brock, 2023-2024 AIAS President
“More than anything else, I’m looking forward to starting the year on the right foot, and getting to know members from every quad and region of the AIAS! I’m excited to reunite with old friends and make so many more. AIAS conferences are the best way to create authentic connections with other students and foster relationships that can last a lifetime. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate leadership and leadership in the AIAS, in whatever way is important to you. The theme of un | rest raises some important points about advocacy and mental health, and I can’t wait to dive into those topics with our members!”
– Julia Andor, 2023-2024 AIAS Vice President
“I love Grassroots because it’s an opportunity for all of us to come together from around the world and reconnect before the school year begins. I am looking forward to the un | rest theme because I am passionate about mental health and I’m excited to engage in political activism in regards to architecture!”
– Liz Fraka, 2023-2024 AIAS Midwest Quad Director
“I am still riding off of the enthusiasm from the Northeast Quad conference and couldn’t be more excited for Grassroots! Our members are what make our organization so special. The energy at Grassroots is infectious and I am so excited to be reunited with everyone again! Grassroots is a time of celebration of our members who have graduated and will begin their next chapters; it is also a time to celebrate the rising leaders of the AIAS and make new memories! Un I rest brings to light important themes of resiliency in our organization, our schools, and our profession that I am looking forward to exploring with everyone!”
– Jordan Luther, 2023-2024 AIAS Northeast Quad Director“There is one (maybe more) difference in attending Grassroots in person vs. online and by far, going to D.C. and meeting leaders of all sorts is the top-notch experience. Whether you go to improve yourself or others, it’s the community of people wanting change that makes Grassroots the big deal. I’m so excited to attend yet another conference with AIAS and meet our members and leaders of tomorrow!!”
– Valerie Ulloa, 2023-2024 South Quad Director“I owe the foundation of my career to AIAS. Grassroots was the first place where I learned the power of great leadership, collaboration, and networking. It instilled these lessons in me every step of my career, from West Quad Conference Chair to AIA National Board At-Large Director. I was fortunate to meet amazing peers and unforgettable leaders at Grassroots. I am honored to be joining the AIAS Board and supporting the next generation of leaders in our profession!”
– Korey D.White, AIA, NCARB, AIA Liaison
