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.

 

   

March 2025 Chapter Leader of the Month: Sofia Urday

University of Miami

Sofia Urday is a 4th year architecture student at the University of Miami minoring in Urban Studies. She is also the 2024 Chapter President and 2025 Chapter Co-President at the Univeristy of Miami.

“Before I was president of the chapter, the AIAS was very different from what it is today. When COVID-19 sent the world as we know it into quarantine, so did many of our classes and studios. Because of this, the AIAS chapter at UMiami suffered greatly and lost a lot of members, support, and fundraising. When I became president in August of 2023, my main goal was to bring the UMiami AIAS chapter back to how it originally was in its glory days. During my time as president, we were able to go to the 2024-25 FORUM conference, be in good standing as a national chapter, and raise a large amount of fundraising for our members. All of these things had not happened since before 2019.”

Through her leadership, her chapter has expanded their scope to interact with the larger community, hosting events with UMiami’s NOMAS chapter and helping carry out the South Florida AIAS Design Charrette with the Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, and Palm Beach State College chapters – event for which they managed to raise $400USD in prize pool money for the winners of the charrette –  thus fostering collaborative impact with students from all over South Florida. Additionally, hchapter has also engaged firms such as Gensler, HKS, Touzet Studio, GFD Groups, and AMDL Circle to bring professional opportunities for their students.

Christopher Stinson, who nominated Shri for this feature, highlighted Shri’s impact on her community:

“Under the leadership of Sofia we have seen a significant resurgence in membership and engagement since COVID-19. During this time, she has helped to lead the chapter in improving relationships with other student organizations and our professional AIA component and increased our engagement and connection with AIAS HQ. […] She has established stronger connection with AIA Miami, and provided many professional resources and programs that many members have expressed great appreciation for and that are currently receiving great value from.

I have witnessed the behind-the-scenes work that she has put in to elevate our chapter, and she embodies the mission and values of the AIAS.”

In Sofía’s own words “AIAS at UMiami has grown so much since I became a member during my freshmen year of college, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work that my E-board and I have accomplished since!”.