In 2027, the AIA College of Fellows will mark an important milestone. Founded in 1952, the modern-day College will celebrate 75 years of recognizing architects whose work has made a meaningful impact on the profession and society. Fellowship remains one of the highest honors the AIA can bestow on a member, and elevation recognizes not only individual achievement, but also the public and professional value of architects who have contributed beyond their own practice, firm, or community.

That is worth pausing to consider. The College of Fellows is not simply an honorific body. It is not just a destination at the end of a successful career. At its best, the College is a working network of architects who continue to serve, mentor, lead, and strengthen the profession. The AIA describes the mission of the College as sharing interests among Fellows, promoting the purposes of AIA, advancing the profession, mentoring young architects, and being of service to society. Those are not abstract ideas. They are responsibilities.

For Fellows, the 75th anniversary should be both a celebration and a reminder. We have been recognized because someone believed our work had impact. Someone took the time to nominate us, support us, write on our behalf, and help tell our story. That process carries with it an obligation to do the same for others. The College is strongest when Fellows remain engaged after investiture — when we help identify future leaders, mentor candidates, support emerging professionals, strengthen components, and use our experience to help the Institute move forward.

This is particularly important in Ohio. We have strong architects doing meaningful work in communities of every size — in large cities, mid-sized regions, college towns, rural areas, and legacy, I’ll say it, rustbelt, industrial communities. Much of that work does not always announce itself loudly. It happens through public service, school projects, adaptive reuse, healthcare, housing, downtown reinvestment, firm leadership, advocacy, education, mentorship, and quiet but sustained service to AIA. The Fellowship process gives us a way to recognize that work, document it, and show how Ohio architects are contributing to the broader profession.

The national standards for Fellowship are intentionally high. AIA notes that only about 3% of AIA members hold the FAIA designation, and candidates are evaluated by a jury of their peers for significant contributions to architecture and society. That rigor matters. It protects the meaning of Fellowship. But it also means we must be intentional about building a pipeline. Worthy candidates do not always see themselves as Fellows. They may be leading important work but not framing it in a way that demonstrates impact. They may need a sponsor, a mentor, a sounding board, or simply someone to say, “Your work matters beyond your office, and it deserves to be considered.”

That is where Ohio Fellows can make a real difference. The 75th anniversary gives us an opportunity to better connect our Fellows groups, strengthen our candidate support structure, and make the process more visible and accessible without lowering the standard. There are already recognized and well-established Fellows networks in the state, including active and successful efforts in Columbus/Dayton and Cincinnati, with renewed activity in Northeast Ohio.  Plans for a statewide meeting to in part, help connect future candidates with existing Fellows continue to be discussed. That is exactly the type of structure Ohio needs. A stronger statewide network can help identify candidates earlier, share successful practices, support sponsors, and encourage Fellows to stay involved. This becomes especially important when information from AIA indicates more than 50% of the Fellows in Ohio are Emeritus, non-practicing architects.

The College’s broader programs also show why this work matters beyond recognition. The College of Fellows Fund supports initiatives such as Component Grants, which in 2026 awarded more than $45,000 to ten AIA components for programs focused on health, well-being, mentorship, community wellness, and engagement across career stages. One of those recipients was AIA Cleveland, for an intergenerational mentorship and wellness initiative in architectural practice. That is a clear reminder that the College’s impact can be local, practical, and member-focused. It can help components do meaningful work that reaches students, emerging professionals, mid-career architects, Fellows, and the communities we serve.

The anniversary also comes at a time when the profession needs visible, committed leadership. Architects are being asked to address complex issues: community reinvestment, climate and resilience, housing, public health, school safety, aging infrastructure, accessibility, changing practice models, and the future of the profession itself. Fellowship should help elevate architects who are not only responding to these issues, but also helping others understand the architect’s role in addressing them.

For members who are not Fellows, the anniversary is still relevant. Fellowship is part of the larger AIA ecosystem. It is a way the Institute tells the story of architectural leadership, service, and impact. It provides examples for younger members and emerging professionals. It shows that careers can be built not only around projects, but around contribution — to communities, to colleagues, to the profession, and to the public good.

As we approach the 75th anniversary of the AIA College of Fellows, Ohio should see this as an invitation. We should celebrate the Fellows who have helped shape our profession. We should reconnect Fellows across the state. We should support strong candidates. We should mentor more intentionally. We should tell better stories about the work Ohio architects are doing. And we should remember that Fellowship is not simply about what has been achieved. It is about what that achievement allows us to do next.

The College of Fellows has lasted 75 years because architects have continued to believe that service, leadership, excellence, and mentorship matter. Our responsibility now is to carry that forward — for our members, for our communities, for AIA Ohio, and for the future of the profession.