Summary: AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Chris McEntee announced the appointment of Sherry Snipes as the Institute’s director of diversity and inclusion, effective April 20. Appointed after a nationwide search, Snipes will lead the AIA’s strategic initiative to enhance diversity within and among AIA components, firms, and members.

“Sherry is a recognized leader on diversity issues who can develop the strong business strategies needed to implement effective diversity and inclusion initiatives for the architecture profession,” McEntee says. “The selection of a new director to lead our initiatives underscores the AIA’s commitment to help ensure that our industry mirrors the society it serves.”

For the last four years, Snipes has served as chief diversity officer for international electronics distributor Arrow Electronics, Inc., where she launched a global diversity program for the Fortune 200 company and established an internal center of excellence focused on internal processes, staff talent employee development, external branding, and business-to-business revenue generation. In addition to her corporate experience, Snipes has led human resources and diversity and inclusion programs at nonprofit organizations, including the Society for Human Resource Management. She is a member of The Conference Board Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Council, has presented to the United Nations World Diversity Leadership Council, and created the European Black Women’s Symposium while at Arrow. Snipes holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Hampton University.

At the AIA, Snipes will set and track success measurements, provide direction and coaching to the executive leadership team on the integration of diversity into the AIA’s business strategies, and assess current programs to create strategies that increase diversity awareness in the design and construction industry.

“The AIA continues to value the diversity of voices, experiences, and perspectives of individuals committed to an expansive architecture profession,” says Marshall E. Purnell, FAIA, Devrouax & Purnell Architects & Planners, Washington, D.C., who co-chairs the Institute’s Diversity Council. Marshall added that the AIA strives to promote awareness of the contributions of architects from under-represented groups, encourage alternatives to traditional practice models, and create opportunities for a variety of individuals to become architects contributing to a better built environment.