Our BOARD
Please contact specific committees for committee-related inquiries.
Stephen Michael Wilder is an Architect & Entrepreneur from Harlem, New York with 20 years of experience working in the built environment. Stephen is a very ambitious person who is rooted in creativity and the desire to be innovative in new and existing spaces. Stephen is dedicated to using his status, resources, and influence to better his community and other similar communities.
For the last 10 years, Stephen has worked on building his architectural firm Think Wilde Architecture. In the competitive and detail-oriented industry of architecture, there is not a day where Stephen is not juggling business, creativity, and technology. Stephen plans to use his business and architecture as a platform to help change the way underserved people live, work, and play.
He has professional affiliations with the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Stephen has a Master’s degree in Science of
Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from
Howard University.
As a new member of the executive board, Stephen looks forward to working collaboratively with the other board members. He will help to continue to steer the organization in a direction that increases awareness of the organization and its members. He will familiarize himself with the needs of the members and identify solutions that will not only maintain a sustainable future but also a thriving one. Specific things that are important to Stephen include, bridging the intergenerational gap amongst the community of minority architects, identifying and strengthening the presence of member firms, and creating a strategy to end the blatant overlooking of black architects for viable urban projects without giving due attention.
Austin Harris is an architect registered in the State of New York with almost 30 years of experience in the field of architecture. Austin has worked at local NYC architectural firms including Gruzen Samton and several internationally known architectural firms including Adjaye Associates (AA), Foster + Partners (F+P), and Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM). His focus in architecture has been mostly on civic and public projects. These include a new subway station at 72nd Street NYC, new libraries for DC Public Libraries, Smithsonian’s National Museum for African American History and Culture, New York City’s first Net Zero Public School, and the 200-acre expansion of Princeton University - Lake Campus Development (Meadows Neighborhood). Austin is currently a Director at NYC - School Construction Authority (SCA), Design Consultant Management Studio, where he manages design professionals who contribute to the development and enhancement of new or existing educational facilities in New York City.
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Austin is also passionate about working with underserved communities, which translates beyond the scope of Architecture. In his spare time, Austin is actively involved in several community-based programs and organizations which are centered on mentorship, diversity and community service including the ACE Mentorship Program. He is a member of the nycoba | NOMA (The New York Chapter of The National Organization of Minority Architects). Austin was a committee member that organized the 2019 NOMA conference in Brooklyn. Austin is a board member of The Arc Westchester, one of the largest agencies in Westchester County supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Austin received his Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Architecture from the City College of New York.
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Allison Lane,
RA, AIA, ASID, NCARB, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, NOMA
Immediate Past President
Allison Lane is a Senior Associate and Multifamily Studio Lead in the Asset Advisory + Architecture practice in the Buildings + Places group at AECOM Metro New York.
With 14+ years of experience in architecture, interior design, and real estate development, she has worked on the design, construction, and project management of six million+ square feet of property, totaling more than $5 billion in construction costs.
Lane has a proven track record in diverse project types including luxury high-end residential, hotel-hospitality, mixed-use residential, and commercial, in addition to leading asset management projects and programs. She has managed educational, institutional, and affordable housing projects, including the New York City Housing Authority’s Physical Needs Assessment where she serves as a Program Manager, and its Comprehensive Modernization Program where she was the Design Program Manager. Additionally, she leads the Multifamily Residential Studio for AECOM’s New York Metro Office, working on affordable and market-rate residential and mixed-use pursuits.
Lane is the current President of the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Architecture from Pratt Institute.
Keristen Edwards is an Atlanta-born, New Orleans-raised architectural designer and educator. From a young age, Keristen was surrounded by a family of makers, artists, and educators, which instilled a deep appreciation for the power of creativity and design.
Keristen earned her Master of Architecture and Master of Sustainable Real Estate Development degrees from Tulane University. This educational experience sparked a deep sense of responsibility as a designer and a desire to hone her skills to design sustainable, accessible, and socially responsible spaces. As part of the inaugural NOMA Future Faces Foundation cohort, Keristen came to New York to work at Ennead Architects, where she currently supports research, healthcare and community engagement efforts.
In addition to her work at Ennead, Keristen is also an educator at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her passion for teaching stems from her belief that architecture is more than just a profession, it is a way of showing love and serving people's needs.
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Cheriyah Wilmot,
NOMA
Corresponding Secretary
Cheriyah Wilmot is a born and raised in New Yorker, and a recent graduate with a BArch from the New York City College of Technology where she and fellow colleagues co-founded the NOMASxCitytech chapter. Her tenure taught her the value of collective action and leadership in order to be the representation and change for her fellow students. Currently, she works as a Junior Designer at Nelligan White architects where she works on sustainability/ rehabilitation projects involved in NYCHA and historic educational institutions. This led to her developing interest of creating awareness for historic Black architecture, and the conversion of existing building stock for affordable housing.
She is committed to focusing on architecture transcending economic barriers to service the greater public. In her free time, Cheriyah mentors at ARCscholars, a program that introduces architecture and design to NYCHA young adults through the study of a specific NYCHA development via the community engagement process. As she was cognizant of the importance of architecture mentors in university and beyond, she strives to pay it forward.
Bradley DeBose, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, is an award-winning Architectural Designer with over 15 years of experience in the AEC industry. Originally from Dothan, Alabama, Bradley brings a strong understanding of architectural principles and policies to his work. With degrees from Auburn University and Georgia Tech, he combines strategic thinking and design knowledge to create effective marketing, branding, and proposal strategies. Bradley also serves on executive and professional development boards with NOMA and AIA New York.
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Passionate about fairness in the built environment, Bradley actively supports community programs focused on housing access, reentry support, and inclusive design. He serves on the Board of Trustees and Building Committee for Family Promise of Hudson County and contributes to national discussions about Justice Design through community leadership and advocacy. His work aims to create more opportunities in architecture and construction for underrepresented communities, particularly those affected by incarceration
For close to twenty-five years Ijeoma has been dedicating her career to creating large scale public works to hone her abilities in all aspects of the creative and professional process. She has been at at the forefront in leading the way for realizing Design Build in New York city by leading projects for the MTA, the DDC, and HH+C. She has worked on some of the most intriguing projects in the metropolitan area, including the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the 7 line Extension, the Queens Borough Hall Municipal Garage and Community Space, and the Harper Administrative Building.
With her background working on such large scale public, commercial, and residential works she understands both the design effort at the human scale and the professional demands made by high profile clients. Her dedication to expanding the role of architects in the community has always kept her excited about the profession.
Ijeoma graduated from Cornell University in the Spring of 2001 and is a registered Architect in New York State. She has also pursued a parallel career as a fine art photographer with multiple exhibitions in New York City. She is currently producing the reImagining, her largest exhibition to date
Mel Loyola Agosto is an architect at MARVEL, based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was born on the island and grew up in Texas, before moving to the East Coast to pursue her college education. After earning her BFA in Film/Animation/Video, she worked in the art department for various projects in film, theatre, animation, and installations. Mel later went back to school to earn her March, and switched to the field of architecture. After working and living in NYC for more than a decade, Mel relocated to Puerto Rico and has been working on initiatives and projects in both locations.
Mel is a member of nycoba|NOMA, having served in various roles such as the executive board corresponding secretary, ARE Study Group Co-Chair, Project Pipeline Co-Chair, and a former member of the Membership Committee. She also volunteers for Techos Pa’Mi Gente, a non-profit in Puerto Rico dedicated to rebuilding roofs for damaged homes, as well as other supportive community programs.
With a twenty-five year career in architecture and advocacy, Kavitha Mathew is the founder of Equity Co:LAB, a consulting and workshop facilitation company focused on increasing equity in the architecture field.
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As Global Diversity Officer at KPF for 3-1/2 years, she led the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as well as the development and implementation of their global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment. Prior to this, her varied experience includes roles as the Special Projects Director of the American Institute of Architects New York, Director of Corporate Architectural Services for Ralph Lauren, as well as various architectural roles at firms including KPF, Spacesmith, and Ted Moudis Associates.
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A registered architect, she has led award-winning programs and presented at various industry conferences and events. She founded the DEI Leadership Network and currently serves on the executive boards of nycoba|NOMA and ACE Mentor of greater New York.
As the newly appointed Marketing Director and a proud member of the executive board at the New York Organization for Minority Architects, Morgan is honored to be part of an institution that has significantly contributed to her personal and professional growth since 2017. NOMA has not only provided her with invaluable connections but also led Morgan to her current professional role.
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Morgan's journey in architecture is deeply rooted in her passion for community and environmental sustainability. She believes that the essence of architectural design lies in its ability to harmoniously blend with its surroundings while serving the needs of the community. Over the years, Morgan has successfully spearheaded marketing initiatives and proposal development for a diverse array of projects, from sports complexes and mixed-use developments to residential designs. Her role in architectural proposal management and branding has been instrumental in shaping her understanding of the industry.
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In her current role, Morgan is excited to bring her expertise in marketing and business management to the table. She is committed to amplifying the voices of minority architects and promoting the incredible work nycoba|NOMA does as an organization.
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past executive board members
president
president-elect
Allison Lane, RA, AIA, ASID, NCARB, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, NOMA (2023 -24)
Gregory T. Switzer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB (2021-22)
Samantha Josaphat, RA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED GA (2019-20)
Ibrahim Greenidge, NOMA, RA (2017-18)
Pascale Sablan (2015-16)
Mark Gardener (2014)
Tonja Adair (2012-13)
Kelly Powell (2010-11)
Heather Oneal (2004-05)
Zevilla Jackson Preston
Jack Travis
Roberta Washington
Austin Harris, AIA, NOMA
Allison Lane, RA, AIA, ASID, NCARB, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, NOMA (2022)
Talisha L. Sainvil, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED (2021)
Gregory T. Switzer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB (2019-20)
Samantha Josaphat, NOMA, AIA, LEED (2018)
vice president
Oral Selkridge, NOMA, RA, LEED AP (2017)
corresponding secretary
recording secretary
Nadeen Hassan, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, LEED Green Associate (2023-24)
Loyola Agosto, NOMA (2021-22)
Maya Madison, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (2019-20)
Shakera Kyle, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, Allied ASID (2017-18)
Bradley DeBose, Assoc., AIA, NOMA (2024)
Leslie Epps, NOMA (2022-24)
Maimouna Sow, NOMA (2020-21)
Sharlita Green, NOMA (2017-18)
treasurer
parliamentarian
Lopita Das, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (2022-24)
Ellen Abraham, MBA, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (2020-21)
Jeffrey Charles-Pierre, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (2017-19)
Touch Mgbenwelu, AIA Assoc., NOMA (2023 - 24)
Maya Madison, AIA, NOMA, NCARB (2022)
Jeffrey Charles-Pierre, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (2021)
Camille Sherrod, RA, NOMA, NCARB (2019-20)
Joseph Cole, NOMA (2018)
Anaelechi Owunwanne, NOMA (2017)