Kate Schwennsen, FAIA is the associate dean of the Iowa State University College of Design and an associate professor of architecture. Prior to returning to her alma mater (BA, 1978; MArch, 1980) to teach design and professional practice, she practiced for 10 years in professionally critical areas, including office and project management, marketing, and design.

Kate is seeking the office of vice president to extend her work to increase understanding among the institutions and constituencies of the profession and improve architectural practice and education. She believes in the AIA's responsibilities to its members and the general public to provide vision that enhances lives, to house and disseminate a growing body of architectural knowledge of high social value, and to advocate for improving the built and natural environments.

Kate's priorities include:
• Eradicating the disconnect among the members and the national, state, and local components through improved communication, increased access to resources and services, and fulfillment of the potential of this electronically driven age while respecting the timeless value of personal contact
• Engaging all levels of components in the fulfillment of membership needs through gaining efficiencies, reducing redundancies, delivering complementary services at the most appropriate levels, and increasing knowledge by sharing expertise across all components
• Increasing collaboration among the profession's collateral organizations to expand and make current the definition of the profession as well as the opportunities and requisites of practice, accreditation, internship, and licensure
• Maximizing the potential of the membership by engaging new members and their expertise, balancing new initiatives with continuing programs, and consistently providing the most valued services to members
• Providing a clear, progressive, pragmatic voice on the Executive Committee for AIA members.

Kate has served the AIA and the profession at all levels, including:
AIA National
• Director, Central States Region, 2000 to present
• Chair: Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education jury; AIA Education Honors Awards jury; Educators and Practitioners Net PIA
• Member: Mentorship Task Force; Board of Regents, American Architectural Foundation; Membership Task Force

Other National
• Chair: NCARB Education Committee; NCARB Certification Through Licensure Task Force
• Member: AIAS Studio Culture Task Force; NAAB Validation Task Force; NCARB Internship Implementation Task Force; NAAB Visiting Teams

State and Local
• President: AIA Iowa
• Chair: Iowa Architectural Foundation; City of Des Moines Architectural Advisory Committee
• Vice President: Iowa Board of Architectural Examiners
• IDP educator coordinator and board liaison.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.