
AIA Georgia Fellows
Fellowship in AIA
AIA Fellows are recognized with the AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society. Architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and who exemplify architectural excellence can become a member of the AIA College of Fellows. Only 3 percent of the AIA members have this distinction.
AIA Georgia boasts over 60 outstanding Fellows among its membership across the State. To support our members during their fellowship process, the AIA Georgia College of Fellows Committee hosts monthly online workshops to review, answer questions, edit, and provide needed support. The committee also leads a Fellows mentorship program and social events. Interested? Read the “Two Questions” from Michael LeFevre, FAIA Emeritus and email [email protected].
Contact
K’Sandra Thomas
Director of Outreach & Communication
AIA Georgia
(678) 553 0509
Email >
Criteria
- AIA architect members who have been in good standing for at least 10 years may be nominated.
- Nominees must have completed 10 cumulative years as an AIA architect member prior to the nomination deadline.
- If uncertainties exist about the period of membership, and after consulting with the local chapter, please contact Membership History to verify the candidate’s eligibility prior to preparing the submission.
Objects of Nomination
Object One: Design, urban design, or preservation
To promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have produced extensive bodies of distinguished work that has been broadly recognized for its design excellence through design, urban design, or preservation. This may be accomplished through individual or organizational effort. Works submitted may be of any size, for any client, of any scope, and reflecting any type of architectural design service.
Object Two: Practice Management, or Practice Technical Advancement
To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of practice.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions through their work in the practice of architecture. Practice management includes firm management, administration, and project management. Practice technical advancement includes specific building types, and technical expertise. For example, practice technical advancement of preservation projects might be based on the architect’s strong commitment to historical research, implementation of unique preservation technique, and coupled with their strong focus on the actual construction implementation to enhance our physical heritage.
Object Three: Led the Institute, or a related organization
To coordinate the building industry, and the profession of architecture.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have actively, efficiently, and cooperatively led the Institute or a related professional organization over a sustained period of time and have gained widespread recognition for the results of their work.
Object Four: Public service, government, industry, or organization
To ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions in public service or work in government or industry organizations through leadership in the development of civic improvements and needed governmental projects, including such elements as conservation, beautification, land-use regulation, transportation, or the removal of blighted areas, or who have clearly raised the standards of professional performance in these areas by advancing the administration of professional affairs in their fields.
Object Five: Alternative career, volunteer work with organizations not directly connected with the built environment, or service to society
To make the profession of ever-increasing service to society.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions to one of the following: an alternative career related to architecture that illustrates outstanding achievements that supports the architectural profession; extensive volunteer work with organizations not directly connected with the built environment; or service that transcends the customary architectural practice that have wide reaching impacts that serve as a national model.
Object Six: Education, Research, Literature
To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education and training.
Fellowship in this object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions through their work in education, research, or literature. Work in education may be teaching, research, administration, or writing and should have a lasting impact, be widely recognized, and provide inspiration to others in the field and the profession. Research areas may include building codes and standards, specifications, new material applications, or inventions.
2025 AIA Georgia College of Fellows Calendar of Meeting & Events with times to date
Friday February 28th COF Planning Meeting
Monday April 1st Submit Mentee names to AIA Georgia
Monday April 1st Candidates for 2025 Fellowship Deadline
Thursday April 17th, 9:00-10:30 am Demystifying Fellowship Workshop
Saturday April 26th AIA Georgia Honors & Awards Ceremony and COF Reception
Tuesday April 22nd, 8:00 am Fellowship Applications Review Committee
Thursday May 22nd COF Mentors & Mentees Meeting
Tuesday May 27th, 8:00 am Fellowship Application Review Committee
Wednesday June 4th-7th AIA25 Conference on Architecture & Design
Tuesday June 17th, 8:00 am Fellowship Applications Review Committee
Tuesday July 22nd, 8:00 am Fellowship Applications Review Committee
Friday August 1st Mid-Year COF Meeting/Luncheon
Friday August 9th Chrisopher Kelly Leadership Development
Tuesday August 26th, 8:00 am Fellowship Applications Review Committee
Tuesday September 9th, 8:00 am Fellowship Applications Review Committee
Sunday September 14th-16th 2025 Aspire Conference
Tuesday October 7th, 8:00 am Fellowship Applications Review Committee
October TBD 2025 COF Elevations Submission Deadline
Tuesday October 28th COF Mentors & Mentees Social Event
Georgia has a number of great examples of successful Fellowship applications. We have digitized a number of them for your review. Should you have questions about a Georgia Fellow’s submission not shown here, please contact us.
2023 AIA Fellowship Sample Application
PLEASE NOTE submissions prior to 2014 may not follow the jury’s recent recommendations.
Object 1
- 2023 Christian Sottile (design)
- 2006 Jack Pyburn (historic preservation)
- 1993 Ray Hoover (design)
- 1992 Larry Lord (design)
Object 2
- 2018 Robert Svedberg (practice management)
- 2017 Gerald Cowart (practice management)
- 2017 Leslie Gartner (practice technical advancement)
- 2016 Paula Burns McEvoy (practice technical advancement)
- 2016 Daniel Watch (research)
- 2015 Gary B. Coursey (practice)
- 2015 Thomas Jerry Lominack (practice management)
- 2014 Robert Paul Dean (practice technical advancement)
- 2014 Jack Portman (practice)
- 2001 Antonin “Tony” Aeck (practice management)
- 1998 James G. Fausett (education)
Object 3
- 2017 Mark L. Levine (led the institute)
- 2015 Ann Kolman Smith (led a related organization)
- 2007 Helen Hatch (led a related organization)
Object 4
- 2016 Liz Harriss York (government)
- 2012 Howard Wertheimer (government)
Object 5
- 2018 Melody Harclerode (service to society)
- 2003 Linda Ramsay (service to society)
More Resources
- 2024 Sample Fellowship Application
- Disqualification Checklist
- Two Questions Why and How by Michael LeFevre, FAIA Emeritus
- Examples of Successful Applications
- Fellowship Submission FAQs; National’s website updated yearly
- Gallery