On January 1, 2024, recent Rice University School of Architecture graduate Melvalean McLemore-Catina will begin her term as the president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Houston. She will do so as the first Black woman to assume this role since the Houston chapter of the organization was established in 1956. In celebration of this achievement, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed Tuesday, November 28, 2023, as Melvalean McLemore-Catina Day.
“We are proud of our school’s links to the professional practice of architecture,” said Igor Marjanović, the William Ward Watkin Dean of Rice Architecture. “We therefore salute the election of our alumna, Melvalean McLemore-Catina, to this important role at the AIA Houston and we look forward to further collaborations between our two institutions in the areas of programming, mentorship, and engagement with the city’s architectural community more broadly.”
McLemore-Catina remarked, “I am excited to take on the role of President next year as the first Black woman to serve in this capacity for AIA Houston. It’s hard to believe that in 2024, I will be the first, but I know serving in this role matters, at the very least, as an example to others. As president, I plan to focus on outreach to our members, students, and allied community organizations. I hope to engage the amazing network I’ve gained at Rice while fostering connections to our members, students, and the city over the next year.”
McLemore-Cantina noted not only how happy she is to have completed her master of science in architecture at Rice Architecture this fall 2023, but also how this appointment has reinvigorated her into action, continuing to manage her service to AIA Houston alongside raising small children and working full time. She credits the support of her family as essential when she was both in school and working. She has been a practicing architect for over fourteen years and currently works at the Houston-based architecture firm Moody Nolan, where she is a senior associate and a project manager, working as the Texas Studio Design Leader, leading education projects mainly in higher education.
AIA Houston is a local chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Through a diverse catalog of programs, members have access to resources and tools to shape the built environment of the greater Houston area. For more information about their work and catalog of events, visit them online at https://aiahouston.org/.
Rice Thresher story: January 16, 2024