by: AIA New York
AIA New York is excited to announce that the organization has awarded a total of $10,000 to help five aspiring BIPOC architects pay off their student loans through the 2030 Fund, which seeks to help build a more diverse and representative profession.
The 2030 Fund was created by AIANY 2021 President Kenneth A. Lewis, AIA, in collaboration with the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects(nycoba|NOMA) in recognition of the profession’s diversity problem and the unique challenges faced by young BIPOC professionals pursuing licensure. According to NCARB by the Numbers 2023, people of color remain critically underrepresented in the field, with BIPOC only accounting for 17 percent of architects nationwide. The fund also seeks to support NOMA’s 2030 Challenge, which aims to double the number of licensed Black architects by the end of the decade.
This year, the 2030 Fund’s five awardees were selected from 31 applicants from across the United States. Beyond student loan support, the recipients will also receive free access to ARE prep courses organized by AIANY and the opportunity to meet quarterly with an architect mentor who will provide early career and licensure guidance.
2025 Recipients
Anays Mical Gonzalez, Assoc. AIA
Anays M. Gonzalez is a Puerto Rican aspiring architect passionate about integrating arts, music, and environmental resilience into architectural design that uplifts people and places. Raised in Puerto Rico, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design, with additional studies in music and acoustics. Growing up on a tropical island exposed her to the long-term impacts of environmental disruption and the limitations of inadequate planning. These experiences fueled her commitment to community-centered architecture—design that strengthens social ties, improves quality of life, and mitigates vulnerabilities. During her academic years, she focused her research on housing and adaptability, contributing to post-hurricane home reconstruction efforts. She later moved to New York City, where she completed her Master of Architecture at Columbia University, contributing research to several publications, including The A&E System: Public Works and Private Interest in Architectural and Engineering Services (2020), on the intersections of architecture, infrastructure, and equity. Now working at a New York-based firm, she contributes to projects that span infrastructure, public spaces, and educational buildings. Her first project focused on enhancing the sustainability of NYC infrastructure, and she currently works on projects that directly impact the communities they serve, including transportation, parks, and educational facilities. Her approach is both research-based and hands-on, blending design thinking with a deep respect for the cultural and human dimensions of space. As she pursues licensure, she remains committed to architecture as a tool for equity, healing, and meaningful connection.
Gonzalez identifies as a Puerto Rican woman and second-generation college graduate.
Edinam Segbefia
Segbefia attended the University at Buffalo for his B.S. in Architecture, and his master’s in architecture with a focus on urban planning. Prior to Gensler, he gained experience working as a junior architect at Preservation Green LLC in New York City. As a planner, Segbefia seeks to use placemaking as a key element in designing for anchor-led development that brings a community together. He is driven by understanding the cultural values of the community that bind the people to the built environment they consistently want to improve. Segbefia’s technical skills and diligent approach to his project work have enabled him to work on various project teams as a pivotal collaborator in bringing the client’s vision to life. The various projects Segbefia has been able to work on include art galleries, residential projects, landscape master planning, critical facilities, and financial workplaces. In addition, Segbefia is involved with Gensler’s New York office and vFrame initiatives, where he volunteers to mentor students from elementary through college to become future architects and designers. Lastly, Segbefia is actively involved with the National Organization of Minority Architects. Aside from architecture, Segbefia likes to spend his time with family, biking with friends, and being an artist.
Segbefia identifies as a male Ghanaian immigrant living in America as an African American.
Grace Lawal
Grace Lawal brings a diverse range of experience to the field of architecture, having worked with design firms such as RKTB Architects, SLM Architecture, and Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) in New York. She holds academic degrees in both architecture and health, a combination that informs her unique approach to design. Known for her practical imagination, Lawal draws from both the sciences and the arts to create thoughtful and impactful architecture. Her work explores the intersection of health, the built environment, and urban design, addressing how architectural solutions can better reflect the needs of people, communities, and the natural world. Lawal aspires to continue her professional journey by obtaining her professional license and contributing to projects both in the United States and abroad.
Lawal identifies as an African American woman.
Kedishia Joseph, Assoc. AIA
Kedishia Joseph is from the vibrant Caribbean Island of Grenada, the youngest of five siblings. Her journey to pursuing architecture in the USA has been driven by intentionality and resilience. Joseph overcame significant challenges, navigating educational barriers to earn an associate’s degree in industrial design from LaGuardia Community College and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Spitzer School of Architecture.
Throughout Joseph’s academic journey, she was supported by mentors, family, and friends, fueling her relentless passion to achieve her goals. She also recognizes the importance of giving back and amplifying underrepresented voices. As the Past President of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), she took on leadership roles within her university community, working with faculty and staff to implement initiatives that positively impacted her peers. Additionally, she is the current Co-chair of nycoba|NOMA’s Community Engagement Committee and a proud 2024 Cohort member of the Civic Leadership Program.
Joseph’s career aspirations extend beyond traditional architecture. She aims to create spaces that tell compelling stories, rooted in history and culture, while advocating for social justice and sustainability and aspire to build a coalition of AEC professionals dedicated to driving positive change in underrepresented communities.
Joseph embraces the challenges of standing out and catalyzing meaningful change. Her mantra, “Be Proud, Be Bold, and Be Deliberate,” encapsulates her approach to success—embracing change, taking risks, and pushing progress. With dedication, vision, and a commitment to making a difference, she is poised to lead the charge toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
Joseph identifies as Black/Caribbean.
Laurin Allison Moseley, Assoc. AIA
Laurin Moseley earned a Master’s in Architecture from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and is a 2020 graduate of the CUNY New York City College of Technology, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Technology.
Moseley has amassed a wealth of experience across a range of architectural disciplines, including digital fabrication, visualization, high-end residential design, workplace projects, and commercial architecture. She currently serves as a Job Captain at Gensler NYC, where she applies her skills in Critical Facilities, Professional Services, and Retail + Consumer Experience.
Her enthusiasm for architecture is centered around exploring the socio-political factors that shape architectural design, collaborating with local communities, and creating a lasting, positive social impact through the built environment. Moseley is eager to continue her growth within the field and contribute to impactful projects that improve people’s lives.
Moseley identifies identify as a Black/African American of Caribbean descent.
Congratulations to all our 2030 Fund recipients and thanks to our 2025 Selection Committee!
2030 Fund Selection Committee:
Anne Xiangyu Chen, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP, WELL AP
Benjamin Gilmartin, AIA
Gregory T. Switzer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB
Jesse Lazar, Assoc. AIA, AIANY Executive Director
Kenneth A. Lewis, AIA
Stephen M. Wilder, RA
Tenetia Mack, AIA, NOMA, WELL AP