Graciela Carrillo, Nassau BOCES Facilities Services Department Senior Manager and New York State Representative for the AIA Strategic Council, and Immediate Past President of the Long Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), has received that organization’s President’s Award.
Ms. Carrillo manages the agency’s operational and capital projects, while also using her professional expertise as NYS Representative of the Strategic Council and Past President of the Long Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Established in 1984, the President’s Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the profession in education, industry or governments by an AIA New York State member.
“Advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion in our profession, specifically for more women in leadership positions and equal pay, is one of my main goals throughout my advocacy efforts,” said Ms. Carrillo. “Mentoring immigrant architects struggling to find their professional path in this country motivates me to amplify the voices of minorities.”
Ms. Carrillo is an immigrant Architect from Bogota, Colombia. She is passionate about building a better community and advocating for the profession on a local, state, and national level. Fueling Graciela is her own “American dream experience.” Her journey to leadership within the profession and immigrant community started while learning how to overcome the adversities she had to endure from the first day she arrived In the United States. Navigating life in a new country, the challenges throughout the licensing process, and finding her voice in a predominantly male profession forged Graciela’s commitment to charting a course for those that would inevitably follow. Today, Graciela is an advocate and exceptional leader within the Institute and the network of immigrant professionals.
Ms. Carrillo is the Co-Founder of the Immigrant Architects Coalition, a group committed to helping and providing resources for immigrant architects to achieve a prosperous career in the US. In 2019, Graciela was the recipient of the AIA NYS Young Architect Award, and in 2022 she was the recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award. In addition, in 2021, she was an honoree of the Top 50 Women in Business in Long Island.
A national speaker, Ms. Carrillo has been featured on various industry podcasts, and a featured author in the book “Latinas in Architecture: Stories of raising the 1% one Latina at a time”. In 2022, Graciela co-authored the book, "City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers." The book compiles stories from 24 successful professionals in our industry, navigating life in a new country, the challenges throughout the licensing process, and starting a new architectural firm.
