Emerging New York Architects

Join the TORCH Mentorship Program as we spotlight the changemakers reshaping the profession and its conversations around diversity, equity, and justice at both the grassroots and institutional levels.

Our panel of distinguished leaders will speak to the initiatives they are spearheading on EDI, education, and ethics to highlight the many ways emerging and experienced designers can effect change throughout our field, including the Emerging Professional Justice Group, JEDI Design Network, Dark Matter University, new AIA resolutions on the Code of Ethics, and more.

WEBINAR
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
6:00pm – 7:30pm Eastern

Register here >

ENYA and the TORCH Mentorship Program are proud to announce the Class of 2021, selected by our steering committee from a competitive pool of Emerging Professionals (EPs).

Congratulations to Anne Chen, Roderick Cruz, Alban Denic, Tamara Dennis, Todd Drucker, Varsha Iyengar, Arielle Siegel Lapp, Yoo Jin Lee, Aleena Majumdar, Yumiko Matsubara, Badal Thakker, Lauren Tucker, Vera Voropaeva, and Lily Wong!

Over the course of the next 12 months, admitted EPs and their assigned partners from the College of Fellows will have the chance to cultivate a valuable mentor-mentee relationship. From resume and portfolio reviews to opportunities to learn and collaborate, the Class of 2021 will find ample means to grow as professionals as part of the TORCH one-to-one mentorship program, and, we hope, share any lessons learned with colleagues of all stripes for years to come.

We strongly believe in the stewardship of our fellow professionals through mentorship, and hope the EPs will continue being an enthusiastic spokesperson for that same mission going forward.

Our mentoring Fellows this year are Andrew Bernheimer, Bryan Langlands, Daria Pizzetta, David Wallance, Fernando Villa, Julia Monk, Laura Ettelman, Mary Burnham, Porie Saikia-Eapen, Robin Guenther, Rocco Giannetti, Sara Lopergolo, Stephen Yablon and Vivian Lee.

All of us at TORCH are very excited to have met the new class, and cannot wait to see them make the best of the program!

AIA New York and the ENYA Committee have decided to extend this year’s application deadline for the one-to-one component of the TORCH Mentorship Program to better accommodate the challenges emerging professionals are facing during the ongoing pandemic. The new deadline for submissions is Sunday, August 1, 2021, 5:00 PM ET.

How To Apply >>

If you have already submitted your application prior to the original deadline, there is nothing additional you need to do. We thank everyone for their interest, and will notify all admitted mentees the first week of August. Please also pencil in 6pm, Wednesday, August 11 for our Mentor-Mentee matchmaking event for admitted candidates.

What is the TORCH One-to-One Mentorship Program?

The TORCH One-to-One Mentorship Program is designed to empower Architects, both Fellows (FAIA) and Emerging Professionals, by fostering symbiotic relationships that confer professional knowledge, culture and leadership strategies from one generation to another. Through discussions and mentoring, TORCH offers a network for better engagement across our professional community. This training and leadership program requires active participation. Emerging Professionals interested in participating in the One-to-One Mentorship ideally have proven leadership and a willingness to learn.

Program Overview

Each selected TORCH mentee will be paired with a local AIA Fellow (FAIA) acting as their mentor for one year. The One-to-One Mentorship Program is supplemental to the public panel discussions in which FAIA mentors will be invited to share anecdotes from their careers that have helped them become experienced architects.

Throughout the program, the mentors and their mentees are expected to meet in a one-to-one setting of their choosing to discuss specific professional goals while further developing and strengthening their relationship. The program benefits include an opportunity to be mentored by FAIA members. Participants will develop communication and leadership skills, advance professional skills, expand professional and personal networks. Mentoring should occur quarterly over a year and will entail, but not be limited to, the sharing of personal experiences, detailed guidance, portfolio and resume reviews, and discussions on personal career advancement.

ENYA is excited to announce that applications for the TORCH Class of 2021 are now open!

Are you an emerging professional with at least three years of professional experience, seeking an experienced architect to talk to about how to take those next steps in your career? Are you looking for someone with whom you can discuss personal goals, review your resume and portfolio, and establish a long-term mentoring relationship?

The TORCH Mentorship Program is perfect for your needs! Every year, we help aspiring young architects connect to distinguished Fellows of the AIA (FAIAs) for a year-long personal career guidance experience. Visit the TORCH website today to learn more about our One-to-One Program, and click on the “How to Apply” link on the left-hand side of the page to see the candidate requirements.

Good luck! We’re looking to welcome you all to the new class!

Start your application here >

ENYA is proud to announce that the TORCH Mentorship Program, which we launched last year with the College of Fellows to great success, now has its very own webpage!

Check out the link below to learn more about all the great programming we have been doing so far, see recordings of panels and program yearbooks, apply to become a member of next year’s mentee class, and more. We look forward to seeing you at future events—virtually, and hopefully soon, in person as well.

Happy holidays from all of us at ENYA and TORCH!

Torch Mentorship Program >