AIA Austin Women in Architecture

AIA Austin Women in Architecture To foster camaraderie and increase access to success for women professionals in architecture and related design and construction industries

05/06/2026

AIA Austin WiA - 'Profiles' 2026 - Ingrid Spencer | Execute Director | AIA Austin

AIA Austin Women in Architecture presents ‘Profiles’ an interview series.

Our Mission at WIA Austin is to promote, validate, and illuminate the role of women within the architectural field through fostering community, fellowship, education, and outreach.

This year's 'Profiles' Interview series invites firm leaders to continue discussing the topic of Inspiration. We asked the question - What first inspired your journey in architecture, and what continues to inspire you today?

Please enjoy the first interview with Ingrid Spencer | Execute Director | AIA Austin. To watch the full interview see link in bio

Committee Chair - Danielle Smith, AIA
Committee Chair-Elect - Tooba Jalal, Assoc. AIA
Sub-committee Chair - Alexandra Chaves, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
Video Production and Editing: Gus Bernal
Liason: Erika Wendel

03/29/2026

AIA Austin WiA Donna D Carter Scholar Recipient 2026 - Hannah Ongmanchi

Design Austin and the AIA Austin Women in Architecture committee are excited to announce the recipients of the 5th annual Donna D Carter Scholar Program, awarded to a minority women and nonbinary student attending the University of Texas School of Architecture. The Donna D Carter Scholar Program was a direct result of the Call to Action subcommittee, formed by AIA Austin WiA in 2021, with the goal to identify and remove barriers for minority women in architecture. After a considerate review process of all the applications, Design Austin and AIA Austin WiA awarded the Scholar Program to three incredible students: Ziada Araya, Arely Martinez, and Hannah Ongmanchi. Please enjoy this video Hannah Ongmanchi describing what it means for them to be one of this year's scholars. In addition to the Scholar Program's monetary support, WiA has paired each student with a mentor from the Austin architecture community. We would also like to take a moment to recognize this year's mentors: Gabriella Bermea, Bhanvani Singal, and Megan McCoy. Thank you to all of the Scholar Program donors. See link in bio to watch the full video.

Committee Chair - Danielle Smith, AIA
Committee Chair-Elect - Tooba Jalal, Assoc. AIA
Sub-committee Chairs - Stephanie Lemmo Assoc AIA, Carina Coel, AIA & Erica Quiñones, AIA
Video Production Sub-committee Chair - Alexandra Chaves, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
Video Production and Editing: Gus Bernal
Location: UT School of Architecture

03/28/2026

AIA Austin WiA Donna D Carter Scholar Recipient 2026 - Arely Martinez

Design Austin and the AIA Austin Women in Architecture committee are excited to announce the recipients of the 5th annual Donna D Carter Scholar Program, awarded to a minority women and nonbinary student attending the University of Texas School of Architecture. The Donna D Carter Scholar Program was a direct result of the Call to Action subcommittee, formed by AIA Austin WiA in 2021, with the goal to identify and remove barriers for minority women in architecture. After a considerate review process of all the applications, Design Austin and AIA Austin WiA awarded the Scholar Program to three incredible students: Ziada Araya, Arely Martinez, and Hannah Ongmanchi. Please enjoy this video Arely Martinez describing what it means for them to be one of this year's scholars. In addition to the Scholar Program's monetary support, WiA has paired each student with a mentor from the Austin architecture community. We would also like to take a moment to recognize this year's mentors: Gabriella Bermea, Bhanvani Singal, and Megan McCoy. Thank you to all of the Scholar Program donors. See link in bio to watch the full video.

Committee Chair - Danielle Smith, AIA
Committee Chair-Elect - Tooba Jalal, Assoc. AIA
Sub-committee Chairs - Stephanie Lemmo Assoc AIA, Carina Coel, AIA & Erica Quiñones, AIA
Video Production Sub-committee Chair - Alexandra Chaves, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
Video Production and Editing: Gus Bernal
Location: UT School of Architecture

12/17/2025

AIA Austin Women in Architecture presents 'Profiles', a video interview series - Compilation 2025

Our Mission at WIA Austin is to promote, validate, and illuminate the role of women within the architectural field through fostering community, fellowship, education, and outreach. Please enjoy this compilation video for the 'Profiles' video interview series, which invites firm leaders to discuss the topic of Inspiration. We asked the question - What do you think is the most important issue facing women in architecture today? How important is it for you to have community engagement? In what ways do you hope to inspire or support other women in the profession?

Please enjoy the 2025 compilation video of the Profile's video interview series featuring;
Andrea LaCour, RAS |Co-founder |Contour Collective
Stephanie Lemmo, Assoc AIA | Principal & Co-founder | Lemmo Architecture and Design
Kristen Padavic, AIA | Director of Design | Cedar
Maggie Wylie, AIA | Principal & Owner | Point B Design Group
Carina Coel, AIA | Principal & Owner | Restructure Studio

Committee Chair - Alexandra Chaves, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
Committee Chair-Elect - Danielle Smith, AIA
Sub-committee Chair - Alexandra Chaves, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
Video Production and Editing: Gus Bernal

Link in bio to watch the full video

12/15/2025

We had a very big year and so much to celebrate. Thank you to this year’s sponsors, volunteers, and all of our community members who contributed to everything we accomplished in 2025. Here is a little recap of our holiday party last week!🥳

Chair Alexandra Chaves
Chair-Elect Danielle Smith
Incoming Chair-Elect Tooba Jalal
WiA Liason Julia Brown

Host: The Marketplace ATX Showroom
Ornament & Holiday Card Design: Sylvia Troconis
Holiday Card Printed:
Ornament Fabrication: .design
Food: Canape MR

Videos & Photos:

Grateful for all of this year’s sponsors who supported our committee and helped make another successful year possible. Y...
12/15/2025

Grateful for all of this year’s sponsors who supported our committee and helped make another successful year possible. Your commitment to women in architecture truly makes an impact 🤍

SPOTLIGHT SERIES: Paloma Efron, Paloma Efron Design and InteriorsPaloma Efron approaches each project as an opportunity ...
12/08/2025

SPOTLIGHT SERIES: Paloma Efron, Paloma Efron Design and Interiors


Paloma Efron approaches each project as an opportunity to enhance her clients’ lives through expressive design. She works with her clients to bring fresh insight to the process through listening and collaboration, while nurturing their own creativity. Paloma studied architecture at RISD, switching to a BFA in graphic design from UT Austin. She started Paloma Efron Design, melding the love of architecture and interiors to help people envision potential in a space. For fun she watercolors architecture and solves puzzles.

Photos Credits & Information:
1. Green kitchen: Cheery bright kitchen and remodel for a family. Photo credit: Kailey J. Flynn Photography

2. Luxury remodel for an outdated bathroom. Photo credit:
3. Watercolor of Avenue B Grocery in Hyde Park
4. Primary bath from a large remodel of Hyde Park house. Photo credit: Kailey J. Flynn Photography

5. Emblem Drive: Colorful and vibrant bathroom remodel. Photo credit: Paloma Efron

Photo credit for Headshot -

womenindesign womeninconstruction design designer shedesigns shebuilds austinarchitecture austintx atx austintexas

Want to spread a little holiday cheer? We’re looking for volunteers to help set up and break down our Holiday WiA Party!...
11/24/2025

Want to spread a little holiday cheer? We’re looking for volunteers to help set up and break down our Holiday WiA Party! If you can lend a hand, please check the link in our bio to sign up

AIA Austin & AIA El Paso WiA invites college students to join in our Salon Series “What We Wished We’d Known Before Grad...
11/12/2025

AIA Austin & AIA El Paso WiA invites college students to join in our Salon Series “What We Wished We’d Known Before Graduating Architecture School” of virtual webinars/panels on November 10 - 13! All are invited to attend our free virtual series and in-person networking event featuring topics curated specifically for architecture students who are preparing for life after graduation.

Tonight's Session 3
Moderator:
Diana Esquivel-Gamboa,AIA, NCARB (WiA Austin)
Panelist:
Paula Cano, Assoc.AIA (WiA Austin)
Camille Urban Jobe, FAIA (WiA Austin)
Paulina Lagos, AIA (WiA El Paso)
Cici Strabbing (WiA Austin)

The week’s events will include:

Monday Nov. 10th 5:30/6:30-7/8pm MT/CT
Mind the (Age) Gap (Virtual)

Tuesday Nov. 11th 5:30/6:30-7/8pm MT/CT
Done with School! Now what? (Virtual)

Wednesday Nov. 12th 5:30/6:30-7/8pm MT/CT
Speaking Up Without Burning Out! (Virtual)

Thursday Nov. 13th 5:30-7:30pm CT
In-person Networking Reception Austin
Hosted at Farmhouse Stone
6521 Burnet Ln #107, Austin, TX 78757

In-person Networking Reception El Paso
Time and Location TBD. Please check the Women in Architecture El Paso social media for updates!

All are welcome!

See link for FREE registration https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aia-austin-aia-el-paso-wia-college-salon-series-tickets-1849546747109?aff=oddtdtcreator


AIA Austin & AIA El Paso WiA invites college students to join in our Salon Series “What We Wished We’d Known Before Grad...
11/10/2025

AIA Austin & AIA El Paso WiA invites college students to join in our Salon Series “What We Wished We’d Known Before Graduating Architecture School” of virtual webinars/panels on November 10 - 13! All are invited to attend our free virtual series and in-person networking event featuring topics curated specifically for architecture students who are preparing for life after graduation.

Tonight's Session 1
Moderator:
Janki DePalma (WiA Austin)

Panelist:
Andrea Freiburger (WiA Austin)
Tooba Jalal (WiA Austin)
Daphne Salcido (WiA El Paso)
Julie Vetter (WiA El Paso)

The week’s events will include:

Monday Nov. 10th 5:30/6:30-7/8pm MT/CT
Mind the (Age) Gap (Virtual)

Tuesday Nov. 11th 5:30/6:30-7/8pm MT/CT
Done with School! Now what? (Virtual)

Wednesday Nov. 12th 5:30/6:30-7/8pm MT/CT
Speaking Up Without Burning Out! (Virtual)

Thursday Nov. 13th 5:30-7:30pm CT
In-person Networking Reception Austin
Hosted at Farmhouse Stone
6521 Burnet Ln #107, Austin, TX 78757

In-person Networking Reception El Paso
Time and Location TBD. Please check the Women in Architecture El Paso social media for updates!

All are welcome!

See the link in the bio for FREE registration



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801 W 12th Street
Austin, TX
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