Kimberly Dowdell has made history. In June, she was elected the first Black female president of the American Institute of Architects at a virtual meeting. Her election makes her the 100th president in AIA’s 165-year history. She told Bisnow what impact her role can have on others and said she is energized by her ability to represent the underrepresented, echoing actress Viola Davis' comments about her own mentor that “it is very important to see a physical manifestation of your dreams.” In a series of virtual conversations, Dowdell reflected on the journey that led her here, the power of representation in architecture and her plans for the future as AIA president. The following has been edited for style, grammar and brevity. 
Bisnow: You're the first Black female president of the American Institute of Architects and its 100th president. What does that mean to you and how will it inform your leadership at AIA?Dowdell: It means a lot to be elected as the first Black female president of an organization that was founded…  Read the full story here. | 
