Quinn Evans is pleased to announce that K. Aurora Smith, AIA, LEED AP BD+C has been selected to participate in the 2021 class of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) of the American Institute of Architects DC Chapter (AIA|DC).

Each year AIA|DC competitively selects a class of 16 emerging professionals for this year-long program to prepare emerging professionals for future leadership roles. Participants are jury-selected based on proven career success and community involvement. The curriculum consists of nine individual half-day sessions focusing on core skills such as marketing and business development, office and firm management, presentation and public speaking, professional ethics and the law, philanthropy and board involvement, community service, industry trends, and the future of the practice.

Aurora is a valued and respected member of any project team. She is always willing to go above and beyond,” stated Tom Jester, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP, QE DC’s office director. “Her initiative has made her a leader among her peers within our firm. I truly believe her involvement will be a benefit to the class, her professional work, and the architectural community at large.

Aurora earned a Master of Architecture from Tulane University (2016) and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia (2012). Since joining QE in 2016, she has been an integral team member serving on multiple projects at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park, including the revitalization of the Bird House. She was instrumental in the development of the QE DC intern program for the past two years. For 2020, she spearheaded a corporate team that organized and hosted a virtual summer intern program that included an array of sessions and experiences. The program was widely viewed as an overwhelming success by participants and professionals throughout the firm’s six office locations.