Hi, my name is Alicia Ponce and I’m the Founder and Design Principal at AP Monarch. I am also an AIA Board Committee member on Climate Action and Design Excellence, and I am the Founder and Chair of Arquitina, a national nonprofit whose mission is to raise the percentage of licensed Latina Architects in the US.
I first met Evelyn when she invited me to speak on a panel discussion for her podcast, Practice Disrupted. I really appreciated being a part of this discussion as it was a space to have very real and transparent discussions about the power of equity, diversity, and inclusion in architecture. Evelyn’s voice in and outside of AIA is empowering future leaders to create a much richer experience for all in the built environment.
I feel Evelyn is an excellent candidate for the 2025 President of the AIA. It’s a position that requires much dedication and understanding of the AIA mission, and Evelyn gives 110%. To me, there is no question that her commitment embodies advocacy, education, and above all fellowship.
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Here’s her official bio:
Architect, Author and Advocate, Alicia Ponce is the founder and principal of APMonarch. Since 2007, Alicia’s expertise and passion for sustainability have supported many clients in designing radically better projects. Her reputation for resilient and eco-conscious architecture secured APMonarch’s role as the Sustainability Architect and direct protégé to Santiago Calatrava and his firm’s design proposal for the 2019 O’Hare International Airport Global Terminal. The international competition drew 1,200 teams and five were selected for the final presentation.
Alicia’s highly collaborative process has led project teams and organizations to earn both LEED and Living Building Challenge certified projects. Recognized for her ability to identify the challenges and opportunities in green buildings, in 2010 Alicia received a grant to co-lead a sustainability workshop in Sao Paolo, Brazil
Alicia is a contributing author of Today’s Inspired Latina Vol. VI. Learn more about her purposeful journey to architecture, entrepreneurship, and connection with nature.