UB planner selected for AIA ‘Next to Lead’ program

Samira Sheikholeslami, an architectural planner in University Facilities and a School of Architecture and Planning alumna, has been selected to join the next cohort of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) "Next to Lead" program.

"Next to Lead" is a 10-month leadership development training program for racially and ethnically diverse women in architecture who aspire to become AIA leaders. The program is grounded in the belief that to create an architecture profession that serves everyone, it must include everyone.

“Belonging isn’t always given; it’s something we must build for one another,” Sheikholeslami says. “This program gives me the platform to do just that, and to help others find their voice, just as I’ve found mine.”

The 2025-26 cohort comprises up to 18 women who are current AIA architects or associate AIA members. 

Cohort participants receive specialized monthly learning opportunities and in-person workshops from expert speakers and instructors, meet monthly for virtual training sessions and attend two in-person retreats during Women’s Leadership Summit and AIA’s Conference on Architecture and Design.

They also participate in AIA volunteer leadership opportunities tailored to their interests and strengths, and are encouraged to apply for leadership roles when the call for volunteers opens in 2026. At the conclusion of the program, participants receive the AIA Next to Lead Leadership and Volunteer Engagement Certificate.

At UB, Sheikholeslami’s work focuses on developing planning and design strategies that foster a more student-centric campus environment, where students can feel a stronger sense of belonging.

She plans to apply the strategies and skills learned from these trainings, workshops and retreats — along with her professional experience — to empower women and give them the confidence to overcome challenges without fear of judgment.

“I’ve been working in higher education for the past three years, which has given me a unique perspective on how the physical environment influences belonging and access,” she says. “At UB, we try to design spaces that not only reflect the diversity of our campus community, but also reduce invisible barriers that can make people feel excluded.”

As an alumna of UB, Sheikholeslami says she’s honored to represent the university on a national stage through the "Next to Lead" program.

“UB gave me the foundation to find my voice,” she says. “It was the starting point, and now I’m trying to carry the voice forward to represent the university’s excellence and AIA as a whole.

“My journey has taught me that leadership doesn’t require perfection; it requires presence, empathy and courage,” she adds. “When we design with equity in mind, we don’t just change the spaces. I think we change lives.”