Kimberly Dowdell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kimberly Dowdell
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| Education | Cornell University (BA), Harvard University (MPA) |
| Occupation | Architect |
Kimberly Nicole Dowdell is an American architect, real estate developer, and educator. She is a leader in the world of architecture. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, she now lives and works in Chicago.
Kimberly Dowdell is a principal at HOK, a large architecture and engineering firm. She was also the national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) from 2019 to 2020. In 2022, she was chosen to be the next president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This is a very important role, and she will be the 100th president and the first Black woman to lead the organization.
Early Life and Education
Kimberly Dowdell grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She studied architecture at Cornell University, earning her Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2006. Later, she continued her studies at Harvard University, where she received her Master in Public Administration in 2015.
Career in Architecture
While at Cornell in 2005, Kimberly Dowdell helped start the Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED) Network. This group focuses on design that helps communities, the economy, and the environment.
After graduating from Cornell, she worked at HOK's New York office starting in 2008. In 2011, she shifted her focus to real estate development.
After finishing her studies at Harvard University in 2015, Kimberly Dowdell worked for Detroit's Housing and Revitalization Department. In 2016, she started working with Century Partners. There, she helped with projects to improve vacant lots in Detroit in a fair way. From 2016 to 2019, she also taught architecture and urban planning at the University of Michigan.
Today, as a principal at HOK, Kimberly Dowdell leads the HOK IMPACT program. She also helps lead the Diversity Advisory across all of HOK's offices around the world. This work helps make sure that people from all backgrounds are included and supported in the architecture field.
Awards and Honors
Kimberly Dowdell has received many awards for her work:
- She was elected to the Cornell University Board of Trustees in 2022.
- She received the AIA Young Architects Award in 2020.
- She was honored with the Women in Architecture Design Leadership – Activist Award in 2020.
- She was the 19th Annual Dunlop Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2019.
- She was named a Next City Vanguard honoree in 2013, which recognizes rising urban leaders.
