• University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture Wallenberg Symposium 2023 reflects on the role of mentorship to increase equity in architecture

    01/30/2023

University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture Wallenberg Symposium 2023 reflects on the role of mentorship to increase equity in architecture

This year´s Wallenberg Symposium at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture focused on equity in architectural education through mentorship. Elisa Silva, in representation of FIU, was among the invited panelists together with Andrew Chin of Florida A&M University, Edmund Akima Brackeen from IIT, Bradford Grant of Howard University, Coleman Jordan from Morgan State University, Stephanie Pilat from the University of Oklahoma and Carmina Sánchez at Hampton University among others. It took place at the Ann Arbor campus on January 30, 2023. 

This year´s Wallenberg Symposium at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture focused on equity in architectural education through mentorship. Elisa Silva, in representation of FIU, was among the invited panelists together with Andrew Chin of Florida A&M University, Edmund Akima Brackeen from IIT, Bradford Grant of Howard University, Coleman Jordan from Morgan State University, Stephanie Pilat from the University of Oklahoma and Carmina Sánchez at Hampton University among others. It took place at the Ann Arbor campus on January 30, 2023. 

The discussions shared experiences and recommendations on: how mentoring provides a strong start to your education and career; where mentorship can establish new relationships and surprising paths for your professional development; ways mentorship boosts your capacity to judge your own advancement and excellence. 

Panelists and guest moderators:

  • Akima Brackeen (Jeanne and John Rowe Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology, IIT)
  • Andrew Chin (Interim Dean, School of Architecture and Engineering, Florida A&M University, FAMU)
  • Edmund Graham (Associate Director, National Center for Institutional Diversity; University of Michigan, NCID UM)
  • Bradford Grant (Interim Chair, Howard University, HU)
  • Coleman Jordan (Thesis Director and Assistant Professor, Morgan State University, MSU)
  • Isaac Mangual-Martínez (Thesis Coordinator and Visiting Instructor, Virginia Tech)
  • Stephanie Pilat (Director of the Division of Architecture, University of Oklahoma)
  • David Rifkind (Director of the School of Architecture, University of Florida)
  • Carmina Sánchez-del-Valle (Professor, Hampton University)
  • Elisa Silva (Associate Professor, Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab and Department of Architecture, Florida International University, FIU)