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State Associate Representative (STAR)

Applications are closed for the State Associate Representative (STAR) position (2025-2026 term) for the Texas Society of Architects.

State Associate Representative (STAR)

Applications are closed for the State Associate Representative (STAR) position (2025-2026 term) for the Texas Society of Architects.

Are you an Associate AIA Member? Are you interested in confronting the issues recent graduates and young professionals face as they navigate the next step in their careers? Would you like to help the National Associates Committee (NAC) address these issues? Then you may be just the person we’re looking for.

Every two years, the Texas Society of Architects nominates an Associate AIA member to represent the state on the National Associates Committee. Applications are now closed for the National Associates Committee State Associate Representative (STAR) of Texas for the 2025 – 2026 term.

This is a tremendous opportunity to take on a larger leadership role within the AIA. This rewarding experience will allow you to be actively engaged in shaping the future of the profession and to grow your network with the NAC, Young Architects Forum (YAF), and the AIA both regionally and nationally.

If you think you may be interested, please read on. If you know of an Associate AIA member who may be interested, please forward this information to them.

Position Overview

NAC Purpose

The National Associates Committee (NAC) is dedicated to serving Associate AIA members in the advancement of their careers.

NAC Vision

By promoting excellence, providing information and leadership, fostering inclusiveness, and encouraging individual, community, and professional development, the NAC will integrate the growing Associates community of the profession into a strong voice within the Institute. The NAC aspires to be the catalyst for progress within the Institute and the profession:

  • We ENGAGE by becoming agents of change
  • We INNOVATE by challenging the status quo
  • We CONNECT by representing our diverse membership
  • We LEAD by example, promoting mentorship, fellowship, licensure, advocacy, and service

The NAC believes its work serves to make AIA membership meaningful to Associates through services that effectively anticipate, meet, and exceed their needs.

NAC Overview

The State Associate Representative (STAR) works with their counterparts, the YARs, AIAS Quad Director and Architect Licensing Advisors. STARs are responsible for gathering information about issues facing Associates within their states and disseminating information about national/state activities and resources for use at the local level. Of equal importance, STARs serve as a vital link between Associates and the national organization.

STARs are the key to vertical communication, connecting Associate leaders at all levels of the Institute. STARs are also encouraged to work on various issues important to them and their states through the NAC work groups.

More information about the NAC can be found here.

STAR Responsibilities

The STAR is the primary connection between local, state, and the National Associates Committee (NAC).

The STAR keeps communication flowing between these groups by:

  • Maintaining quarterly communication with all NAC chapters within the designated state.
  • Serving as a conduit between local NAC chapters and the NAC Advisory Committee (AdComm, NAC Leadership Group).
  • Collecting and disseminating information to local, state, and national components.
  • Submitting a state report.

The STAR contributes to the direction and planning of the NAC by:

  • Participating in the NAC Annual Meeting.
  • Working on various national issues.
  • Working on at least one group identified by the NAC annually.

The STAR is a connection at the state level to other AIA groups by:

  • Communicating with Young Architect Representative (YAR) quarterly about how to work together to support each other’s efforts.
  • Suggesting or encouraging young architects for nomination for state or national awards, positions or committees/subcommittees.
  • Attending AIA’s convention, when possible.
  • Working within TxA to ensure that expectations from state leadership are clearly defined and met.
  • Attending and participating as a voting member at state board meetings.
  • STARs may be asked to volunteer on AIA board committees.

STAR Commitments

AIA National Commitments are as follows:

  • NAC & YAF Joint Annual Meeting (Q1) 2 – 2 1/2 days
  • NAC full committee conference calls – 1 hour each TBD estimated quarterly
  • NAC taskforce/workgroup conference calls – 30-60 minutes monthly
  • Additional time dedicated to working the efforts/goals of the committee approx. 4 – 6 hours a month

TxA commitments are as follows:

  • Attend and participate in quarterly board meetings – three will be in person – full day Thursday and half day Friday. These meetings will take place at TxA HQ in Austin unless an out-of-town meeting is being planned. The Q4 meeting will be a full-day virtual meeting.
  • Leadership Retreat – This will be a two- to three-day meeting at TxA HQ held in January and will include the full board, committee chairs, and local chapter leadership.
  • Work with the TxA Associate Director and YAR to curate Emerging Leaders programming for TxA’s annual conference.

Other recommended engagement:

  • AIA Grassroots
  • AIA Conference on Architecture

NAC Funding

AIA National covers the costs for STARs travel, food, and lodging to attend the NAC/YAF Annual Meeting (if in person). In addition, STARs have the opportunity to attend AIA Grassroots and the AIA Conference, but expenses for these events, along with any other costs associated with other travel or conferences, are the responsibility of the STAR.

Texas Society of Architects provides a stipend to cover expenses for all TxA Board Meetings and the Leadership Retreat, TxA’s annual conference, and either AIA Grassroots or the AIA Conference.

Application Requirements

Applicant must be an Associate AIA member in good standing (having paid all dues and obligations due to AIA and its components to which they are assigned and having met continuing education requirements for membership) and must not be licensed at the time of submission.

Selection Process

TxA’s Nominating Committee, together with our current STAR & YAR will prepare nominations to be reviewed and elected by the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of Architects in July 2024. Once approved by the TxA Board, the slate is presented to the full Texas membership at the Annual Business Meeting.