The AIA California Council (AIACC) Academy for Emerging Professionals (AEP) exists as the collective voice and source for information and support regarding the career development for Emerging Professionals in the early stages of their architectural career.
In service to that goal, AEP Council of Advisors (COA) has embarked on a new journey this year to reach out to its Emerging Professional constituents more directly by establishing a series of “AEP Roadshows.” In addition to a partial presentation earlier this year at the AIA Pasadena Foothill Chapter, three members of the AEP COA [Regional Associate Director Megan Dougherty, Assoc. AIA; Licensing Advisor for Southern California, Nathan Dea, Assoc. AIA; and Vice President of the AEP Ben Kasdan, AIA] traveled to Bakersfield this past weekend to visit AIA Golden Empire on the first full stop of the AEP Roadshow.
A very diverse group of AIA Golden Empire members and guests – high school students (and their parents and siblings), architecture students from the local community college, Associate AIA members, licensed architects, and other people looking to switch careers into architecture – welcomed them on a bright Saturday morning at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Dougherty, Dea and Kasdan spoke about the history and mission of the AEP, the resources created by the AEP available to AIA chapters and members, and about the path to licensure with a breakout session at the end of the presentation to discuss individual challenges and stories.
As evidenced by the photos, the event was a great success, and all look forward to traveling on the road for more … well … roadshows.
Stay tuned as the AEP Roadshow visits another Chapter near you!
