AIA Begins Search for New CEO

March 26, 2025

To the AIA Community, 

The AIA Board of Directors is pleased to share an important update regarding the search for AIA’s next EVP/Chief Executive Officer. Ensuring strong leadership for our organization and profession is a top priority, and we are committed to a thoughtful and inclusive search process that reflects the needs of our members and stakeholders. 

To support this effort, the Board has formed a search committee, chaired by 2024 AIA President Kimberly Dowdell, AIA. The search committee represents a diverse group of leaders from across the organization, including past and current board members, representatives from AIA’s Strategic Council, National Associates Committee (NAC), Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), AIA International, and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). This broad representation ensures that input from AIA members and stakeholders is integral to the process.   

The search committee has engaged Heidrick & Struggles, a premier international executive search and leadership advisory firm, to lead the recruitment process. The search will be led by Tonya Muse, FASAE, CAE, a consultant in Heidrick & Struggles’ Washington, D.C. office with deep expertise in association leadership transitions. 

The search firm will conduct outreach and gather input from AIA’s diverse community, helping to shape the CEO position description to reflect the needs and aspirations of the Institute and its members. AIA remains committed to its core mission of advancing the value of architects and supporting its members in designing a better world. Our next CEO will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AIA and the architectural profession. 

Thank you for your continued engagement and commitment to AIA. For further questions, contact the chair of the search committee, Kimberly Dowdell, at [email protected].  

Best regards,

The Board of Directors of The American Institute of Architects