🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #31: xxxx with Cindy Maleike, AIA

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Cindy was raised by her grandparents and father. At 19, she immigrated to the United States with her sisters, following her mother’s dream of greater opportunities. Like many immigrants, she adapted to a new culture while working various jobs—including in a flower shop, babysitting, and house cleaning—before discovering her passion for architecture as an administrative assistant for a contractor in New York City, where she was part of the team that rebuilt One World Trade Center (Tower 1).

This experience inspired her to pursue an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Technology at SUNY Orange Community College in NYS. During her studies, she worked as a draftsperson under a professor who became her mentor. Encouraged by his guidance, she chose to pursue architectural licensure in New York State as a non-traditional candidate.

While raising a family and working full-time in her 30s, she completed her NCARB AXP hours and passed all divisions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) by March 2024. In summer 2025, she fulfilled the remaining professional requirements and, on August 5, 2025, became a Registered Architect in the State of New York.

With experience in residential, commercial, and K–12 educational design, she is committed to advancing the profession through mentorship and advocacy. She currently volunteers with the AIA Westchester–Hudson Valley Chapter as a member of the Emerging Professionals Committee and Co-Chair of Latinos in Architecture, serves on the SUNY Orange Association Board, teaches financial literacy with Junior Achievement of New York, and mentors emerging professionals through the Immigrant Architects Coalition and Arquitina—promoting diversity, inclusion, and expanded opportunity within the field of architecture.

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

 
Listen here: IAC Podcast , and available on all major podcast platforms.

#ArchitecturePodcast #DiversityInArchitecture #InclusiveCommunity #ImmigrantArchitects #EmpoweringVoices #ImmigrantArchitectCoalition #Architects

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🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #30: Work Life Balance - Setting boundaries for a healthy lifestyle and business ownership with Melissa Cheing, AIA, LEED GA, Well AP, NOMA

Melissa Carolina Cheing was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and moved to Ecuador with her family at the age of four. She grew up in Guayaquil, where she earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil (UCSG).

At 27, Melissa relocated to New York City to continue her education and received a Master of Science in Sustainability from The City College of New York. During her graduate studies, she was awarded the Bernard and Anne Spitzer Scholarship in recognition of outstanding academic achievement. She obtained her architectural license in the State of New York in 2021.

Melissa began her architectural career in New York City in 2011, where she discovered her passion for integrating architecture and interior design. Over the course of more than 12 years at her previous firm, she advanced to the role of Design Director, leading the design and delivery of over 100 projects totaling more than 1,000,000 square feet of commercial space across New York City. Her work served both landlords and tenants and spanned a wide range of commercial interior environments.

In 2023, Melissa founded MCC Architecture, a practice focused on commercial interior projects in New York City. Drawing on her extensive experience and long-standing client relationships, she established the firm to deliver thoughtful, client-centered design and to pursue her professional vision with greater autonomy.

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

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Join us for this entertaining conversation between the leaders at IAC!

IAC’s 2025 Impact & What’s Next in 2026 brings together the Immigrant Architects Coalition’s Board of Directors—Yu‑Ngok Lo, Graciela Carrillo, Saakshi Terway, Oyuki Sulu, and Gloria Kloter—for a candid year-in-review and forward-looking conversation. The episode reflects on key milestones, programs, publications, and partnerships from 2025, and outlines the initiatives, priorities, and opportunities ahead in 2026.

This episode is dedicated to the community that makes IAC’s work possible: our collaborators, coauthors of past books, authors of blog’s articles, mentors and mentees, webinar speakers, podcast guests, and generous sponsors. Your collective commitment continues to expand pathways, amplify voices, and strengthen support for immigrant architects across the profession.

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Gilberto Lozada Báez is a Mexican architect based in Mexico and the 69th President of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). Gilberto graduated in 2024 from Universidad de Monterrey, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Architecture with Magna Cum Laude honors and the CENEVAL National Award for EGEL Academic Excellence. 

As an emerging architect and designer, Gilberto is passionate about exploring architecture as a process rather than an end product—one that creates spaces that celebrate the ecological and cultural dynamics of our ways of dwelling. His work has been recognized nationally and internationally at the 39th Alberto J. Pani National Architectural Composition Award and the 2022 NYC Architecture Biennial. He has also received accolades from the VII Xignux-UDEM Prize for Alternative Energies and Sustainable Design, the National Encounter for Architecture Students (ENEA 34), and the XXII Nuevo León Architecture Biennial, among others. 

Gilberto became the first International Officer of the AIAS in 2024, and since then has continued to take on leadership and service roles in the AIAS, the ACSA Board of Directors, and, more recently, the AIA’s Strategic Council.  Through his intersectional involvement, he is committed to creating strong collaborative ecosystems across individuals, groups and borders to enhance the role of architecture and design in building stewardship for our communities.

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #27: From China to Dubai: Li Ren’s Global Journey as a U.S.-Licensed Architect, by Li Ren, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

Li Ren, originally from Chengdu, China, is an Architect and Associate at Perkins Eastman in Dubai. He specializes in hospitality, senior living, and master plans. His approach to design is sustainable and inclusive. He seeks to involve the community in the design process to enhance the design's quality and social engagement.

Li is passionate about community-focused design and inclusive living. His research and practice are centered around these themes, with a particular focus on technology, sustainability, and culture. He has been recognized for his contributions to the field, including the AIA|DC Emerging Architect Award in 2021 and BD+C’s 40 Under 40 Awards in 2022.

In active involvement with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architect Registration Board (NCARB), Li currently serves as the past chair of the AIA Global Practice Committee and holds the role of AIA Middle East chapter President. In academia, Li has contributed as a visiting lecturer at Virginia Tech (WAAC), adjunct instructor at the American University in Dubai, and visiting professor at the American University in the Emirates.

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

 
Listen here: IAC Podcast , and available on all major podcast platforms.

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Samia Rab Kirchner, originally from Quetta, Pakistan, makes, studies, and analyzes architecture that contributes to urban civic identity. She is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at Morgan State University Department of Architecture. She has previously taught architecture, urban design, historic preservation, and urban heritage management at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Georgia Institute of Technology. She also serves as Associate Director on the Board of the Baltimore Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as the Middle East Area Editor for the forthcoming Bloomsbury Global Encyclopedia of Women in Architecture, as Editorial Member of the Journal of Arabian Studies, and as Desk Reviewer for ICOMOS on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #25: Cloudiya Ochoa, AIA, NCARB, CDT. Licensed in North Carolina and Mexico.

Cloudiya Ochoa, AIA, NCARB, CDT, is a licensed architect in the North Carolina and Mexico, with over 12 years of experience. She brings a global perspective to her work and is passionate about helping others navigate the path to licensure. As a working mom of almost three and a foreign-trained professional, Cloudiya shares her journey balancing family, career, and professional growth in hopes of inspiring the next generation of architects. 

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #24: Anuya Sant, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C. Licensed in Wisconsin and India.

Anuya is a seasoned health care architect, planner, and project manager with over a decade of experience in operational planning and evidence-based design. Originally from India, she brings her passion for historic preservation, sustainable and community design to her projects to create effective and long-lasting environments. Anuya has been a dedicated volunteer for the community with her involvement with the Wisconsin Architectural Board, AIA, NCARB, and AMFP organizations.

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

 
Listen here: IAC Podcast , and available on all major podcast platforms.

#ArchitecturePodcast #DiversityInArchitecture #InclusiveCommunity #ImmigrantArchitects #EmpoweringVoices #ImmigrantArchitectCoalition #Architects #IACTalks

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #23: Rajan Karmacharya, PMP®, AIA, NCARB, licensed in Texas and from Nepal.

Rajan, originally from Nepal, is a Senior Architect and Project Manager with over a decade of experience and a story that’s anything but typical. After being diagnosed with dyslexia, he didn’t just navigate the challenges of architecture school; he crushed the ARE 5.0 with just six months of preparation, earning his license in 2022.

He currently serves as the Chair of the ARE Study Program Subcommittee for the AIA Austin chapter and is on a mission to make the path to licensure more accessible. As the founder of Arniko Academy, an edtech startup focused on active learning and personalized education tools, Rajan is helping future architects tackle the AREs on their own terms.

In this episode, he shares how he turned obstacles into motivation, why traditional learning doesn’t work for everyone, and what it really takes to become a licensed architect in the U.S.

To learn more about his startup, visit https://arniko.academy.

Promo Code: IAC50 (use at the checkout)

Discount: 50% off (for all 6 months plans)

Expires: July 6, 2025 (Independence day long weekend)

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

🎙️ Listen to the IAC Podcast Episode #22: An Immigrant Architect's Path to Giving Back with Mahbuba Khan AIA, MPA, LEED®AP BD+C

Mahbuba Khan is the founding president of MnKhan Architects, a minority-owned firm specializing in public projects across community, institutional, and municipal sectors in Coppell, Texas.

Most recently, she served as a Technical Lead Architect for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as a Capital Project Manager for the City of Dallas, TX.

She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from a sister school of Texas A&M in Bangladesh and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of North Texas. With 25 years of experience, her expertise spans large firms, private practice, capital-funded projects, federal healthcare initiatives, and mission-critical programs.

In addition to her professional work, Mahbuba has actively contributed to various AIA and City board positions. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Public Architects Knowledge Committee at the national level.

https://www.mnkhan.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahbubakhan/

https://www.facebook.com/MnKhanArchitects/

https://x.com/mnkhanarchitect?s=21&t=LEkvcEBqu9AAzGAmqSVt6w

Tune in to The Immigrant Architects Coalition Podcast and don't miss out on the fascinating conversations that shed light on the triumphs and resilience of immigrant architects and designers. Subscribe now and join us on this incredible adventure! 

Thanks for Listening! Visit our website https://www.immigrantarchitects.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn