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OPINION
Reclaiming the future
NOMA’s HBCU Professional Development Program is reshaping architecture by expanding opportunity, building networks, and investing in underrepresented talent.
W hen I think about the future of architecture, I don’t just see buildings – I see people. I see untapped potential in classrooms, communities, and cultures that have long been excluded from shaping the built environment. The NOMA HBCU Professional Development Program is a direct response to this exclusion. It’s not just a program – it’s a movement grounded in equity, mentorship, and the intentional development of underrepresented talent.
Ricardo Jesus Maga Rojas, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, PMP
I’ve spent the past decade navigating this profession – its triumphs and its trials – and one thing is clear: access to opportunity is still not equitably distributed. Programs like the HBCU PDP aren’t just a good idea; they’re essential. They provide critical touchpoints between architecture firms and students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – students whose brilliance, creativity, and lived experiences can reshape the field if given the right platform. Co-founded by Melvalean McLemore-Catina, Anzilla Gilmore, and Zhetique Gunn, and inspired by Jonathan Moody’s charge for direct action, the HBCU PDP was built to close the opportunity gap in architecture. The goals are straightforward but
powerful: build networks to award-winning firms, help students secure entry-level positions, and establish lasting mentorship rooted in support, not charity. That last part is key: this isn’t about charity – it’s about justice. As someone who attended an HBCU, Tuskegee University, and has deep roots in Black and Afro-Caribbean culture, I recognize the unique environment HBCUs provide: cultural belonging, community strength, and academic excellence in the face of systemic adversity. Today, only seven HBCUs have NAAB-accredited architecture programs,
See RICARDO JESUS MAGA ROJAS, page 8
THE ZWEIG LETTER JULY 21, 2025, ISSUE 1594
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