The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) identifies, cultivates and mentors young leaders in three areas of leadership: the firm, the profession and our community. Going into its 12th year, the Emerging Leaders Program boasts more than 250 graduates and draws rave reviews through its curriculum that combines leadership discussions, class-developed panels, and class projects benefiting the greater community. Past community projects undertaken by the Emerging Leaders include the design of a playground for CityWalk@Akard, the design of the Promise House Street Outreach shelter, the site plan of Bonton Farms and design of its Community Center, a children’s playground at Fair Park, a columbarium at CitySquare, and a facilities and site plan for Dallas Pets Alive. The reformatted 6-month program began in 2023 with Suzanne Smith, MBA, facilitating the discussions. Through engagement in the program, participants will develop a personal leadership development plan to directly address individual needs and substantially impact their organization.
Applications for the 2026 Emerging Leaders Program are open!
The following are imperative for an applicant’s acceptance:
- The online application form must be completed in its entirety. All information is mandatory.
- At least one, but no more than three references must be provided using this online reference form.
- The application and reference forms must be completed by Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
When the application period closes, the selection committee will promptly begin the review and selection process. Late submissions will not be considered.
Admission to the program is based on the applicant meeting all criteria. Preference will be given to current AIA Dallas members, but AIA membership is not required. We strongly urge that applicants hold meeting dates for 2025-2026 and do not apply if two or more dates conflict with their professional and personal schedule. There will not be any make-up sessions.
All applicants will be notified of the decision by Monday, January 12, 2026. Upon notification, invoices for program fees will be sent to all selected applicants and the corresponding sponsoring firms upon notification.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for this program, an applicant must be:
- employed full-time by an architectural firm in the immediate chapter area,
- on the path to architectural licensure or have recently become licensed,
- have at least 5 years of experience in the architecture or design fields,
- in good standing with the American Institute of Architects and all other professional organizations,
- able to commit the time and effort to participate in at least one AIA chapter network(s) and/or committee(s),
- able to commit the time and effort necessary to fully participate in this program—homework, project, and networking assignments require several hours each month in addition to classroom instruction.
PROGRAM DATES
- Orientation: February 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM*
- Session 1: February 27, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM*
- Session 2: March 20, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM*
- Session 3: April 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM*
- Session 4: May 15, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM*
- Session 5: June 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM*
- Session 6: July 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM*
- Project Presentation & Graduation: August 13, 2026 (Time TBD)
*Following each session, participants are invited to join an informal networking happy hour.
TUITION
A tuition fee of $2,000* shall be paid on or before January 30, 2026. Tuition is nonrefundable on the date of the program orientation, February 19, 2026. Late payment of the tuition forfeits your candidacy which will be offered to the first qualified alternate. The employer/sponsor pays $1,700 of the fee, with the remaining $300 to be paid by the participant as a personal commitment to the program.
*Tuition for a non-AIA member is $2,500. The employer/sponsor will be responsible for $2,000, with the remaining $500 to be paid by the participant as a personal commitment to the program.
PROJECTS
Each year, the ELP class is asked to contribute to community-driven design-based projects that provide meaningful opportunities for participants to develop leadership skills through real-world, team-based projects that address civic or community needs.
Do you have a project to recommend for one of the class projects? If so, please complete this form.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
Assuming 100% attendance, participants who are AIA members will receive approximately 18 learning units upon completion of the program.