ELA 2026 Application
Call For Applications
AIA Virginia + AIA Coastal Virginia announce the call for applications for the 2026 class of Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA): An Honors Academy of AIA Virginia.
ELA is an intensive program of educational sessions structured around presentations, discussions, team exploration, analysis, consensus-building, collaboration, and case study activities undertaken over the course of a year by a small cadre of participants selected for their potential to be outstanding contributors to the profession and the community. Facilitators and mentors who are established leaders in the building, finance, non-profit, development, university, legal, consulting, and design professions and in the community at large develop and deliver the sessions, designed to provide participants with advanced knowledge and skills related to specific areas of leadership and practice.
The program consists of monthly, day-long seminars, work sessions, or class project presentations, culminating at a presentation at Architecture Exchange East in November.
The seminars are interactive, drawing on real examples and actively involving participants. They rotate among sites in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, Alexandria, and Norfolk in conjunction with the firms, schools, and the local AIA chapter in each area. The class project for 2026 will be in Richmond, so many sessions and the project workdays will be located in the Richmond area.
How to Apply
The committee seeks applicants from three categories:
Chapter Nominees: Each of the five Virginia local chapter Boards may nominate one or more individuals for admission to the program. One participant will be selected from each component for a total of five. Each chapter sets its own deadline and application requirements for these positions. Deadline for AIA CoVa is October 20th, 2025.
Chapter Nominee application deadline to AIA Coastal Virginia is October 20th, 2025 @ 5:00 pm.
Please send completed application to Bernadette Keplinger, [email protected].
A Nominee will be chosen + informed by AIA CoVA that they have been selected. The nominee will then submit the application to AIA Virginia. As the nominee of the chapter, AIA CoVA will Reimburse You $500 upon successful completion of the program.
Open Applications: Applicants may apply on their own or be nominated by someone else. Seven participants will be selected from among these applicants.
Open Application Deadline to AIA Virginia: November 11th, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
Student Nominees: Each Virginia Architecture School (UVA, VT, Hampton, and WAAC) may nominate one or more students for admission to the program. One participant will be selected from each school for a total of four.
Students, if interested, please contact your department Chair/Dean.
If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Guske, Member Services Director, [email protected]
