“DESIGN LIKE A GIRL” MENTOR PROGRAM with JOANNA SCHMICKEL
Joanna Schmickel, FAIA is Principal at Cox Graae + Spack Architects, an award-winning national firm for Education, Retail, Commercial, Institutional and Residential projects. Being one of the only women at her company at first, she has demonstrated that her experience and passion surpass more than her gender. Even in her architecture school days at Syracuse University, she saw Architecture as a “man’s job.” Now, she has witnessed the industry's evolution where, day by day, women have been catching up to the number of men with the hope that the new generations will incorporate more female leaders. This mindset currently reflects in her company, where about 50% of her crew is female. For five years, Joanna and her team have worked as coaches in the program she founded called “Design Like a Girl” Mentor Program. The program is for middle school girls. During the school year, they work in four workshops: themes, field trips, drawing, and modeling. The program introduces young women to the architectural world and encourages them to feel confident, bolster their capabilities in the field, generate an impact, and help define their future. Joanna is an optimistic woman who believes that there’s always room for more. She considers this workshop to be a true inspiration and hopes to bring it to schools nationwide.
As of March 2022, Joanna Schmickel, FAIA has been elevated to the College of Fellows. On behalf of our team at Illustrate My Design, we congratulate you for your many successes and impact. To many more, Cheers!
Listen to the interview | podcast
““There’s always room for more (women). My program introduces young women to the architectural world and encourages them to feel confident, bolster their capabilities in the field, generate an impact, and help define their future.”
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Featured project
Author Bio
Florencia Bialet
Co-Founder and CEO of Illustrate My Design (IMD).
Featured Guest
Joanna Schmickel
Principal at cox graae + spack Architects, providing leadership for projects encompassing interior design services as well as planning and design for education facilities.