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• The Ambassadorship Committee focuses on projecting the CoAD Alumni Association to students, faculty, staff, and community at large. Some of their initiatives have included: alumni spotlights, the Alumni Association social media, firm visits, and building and maintaining relationships with other Alumni Associations.
  
  
• The Awards Committee will develop and maintain a program of awards that promote CoAD alumni who are making an impact in their community.
  
  
• The Events Committee assists the university in coordinating important events for CoAD alumni. Some of their initiatives have included: the annual holiday party, happy hours, and the pre-career fair reception.
  
  
• The Governance Committee will ensure that the bylaws are maintained and there is a consistent transition of officers.
  
  
• The Student Engagement Committee will focus on connecting the student community with alumni and professional communities. Some of their initiatives include: stress relieving events during Jury Week, Career Fair Prep Events, and partnering with Student Organization events.

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Alumni News

• News Archive

11th Annual Cougar 100 Honors Hines College Alumni
The 11th Cougar 100 Awards spotlights the fastest-growing companies founded or led by UH graduates, strengthening the network of Cougar entrepreneurs and emphasizing the importance of alumni collaboration in the business world. This year, alumni from the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design once again secured well-deserved places on the list.

Alumni Spotlight: Justin Taplet (B.Arch. and B.S. '08)
Justin Taplet grew up with a mother who served in the military and moved around often as a kid, experiencing new cities and their architecture. The experience inspired him to study architecture in a large city, making the Hines College a natural fit. To students, he shared: "Your story is your own. Embrace who you are and where you have been. Your career is not a race."

Alumni Spotlight: Vishwesh Panchal (M.Arch. '16)
Vishwesh Panchal grew up in a household that appreciated art and construction, leading him to a career in architecture. He shared, "Pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at the Hines College opened doors to new perspectives and opportunities."

Alumni Spotlight: Jes Deaver, AIA (M.Arch. '16)
A principal and partner at Nick Deaver Jes Deaver Architecture, Deaver also contributes stories and articles to a number of publications like Texas Architect magazine and The Architect's Newspaper. She also shared, "The confidence and passion for sharing my ideas is something I began to build as a student at the Hines College."

Alumni Spotlight: Kadmiel Konan (B.S. '23)
Growing up on the Ivory Coast, Kadmiel Konan (B.S. '23) always had an interest in technology and design. His interests in design has helped him hone a variety of skills that go beyond the role of a traditional industrial designer, having worked on projects for clients like Snap-on, Tabasco, NOV, and KOCH.

Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Valdez (B.Arch. '14)
Jessica Valdez's (B.Arch. '14) design journey went from being a fan of home makeover shows while growing up to finding her passion and career as a healthcare planner at Page. One important lesson she learned at the Hines College is that "every design decision should have a purpose."

Unboxing Gentrification
Hines College alum Paul Molina (B.S. ’19) received a Fulbright award to explore displacement in Mexico City caused by gentrification, using the Chicano aesthetic of rasquachismo. His project involves creating scenic installations to represent the cultural memories of displaced families.

Alumni Spotlight: Mariel Piña (B.S. '11)
Mariel Pîna (B.S. '11) always wanted to pursue a career that merged her passions for creativity and helping people. Of her time at the Hines College, she said, "I learned from lectures, experimentation, and, sometimes, failure. Working in a creative environment with high standards prepared me for the professional world of design."

Alumni Spotlight: Nicholas Orchard (B.S. '18)
Industrial design alum Nicholas Orchard (B.S. '18) shared advice to students: "No matter what anyone else is doing, think for yourself, interpret things however you see fit, and do what you think is right. Trust yourself. Even failures are achievements if you use them as learning opportunities."

Alumni Spotlight: Tarek Moubayed (M.Arch. '23)
Recent graduate Tarek Moubayed (M.Arch. '23) now works as an architect at AECOM. He said he pursued his studies at the Hines College because: "Design, in and of itself, is a process of bringing people together to solve problems... This is the kind of environment I felt I was exposed to at the College, and it is one I am grateful for."

Alumni Spotlight: Andres A. Pacheco (M.Arch. '03)
Andres A. Pacheco (M.Arch. '03) recently won three AIA Awards for his work as a senior associate at VMDO Architects. "Being able to work on any project at hand is what truly motivates me the most every day. I am so thankful for that opportunity," he shared.

New On Board: PDR Principal Marc Bellamy
This spring, industry leader and alumnus Marc Bellamy (B.Arch. '00) joins the Hines College's Leadership Council as the advisory group continues to advance the College's strategic initiatives.

Alumni Spotlight: Andre Simapranata (B.Arch. '12)
Andre Simapranata (B.Arch. '12) recently completed a project in Bali, a residential villa called Tanatakah. He said, "The Hines College fully prepared me with the skills to take on this kind of project and see it through."

Hines College Alum Honored for Historic Preservation Legacy
Preservation Houston honored alumnus David Bucek, FAIA (’90), with the 2024 President’s Award. The recognition spotlights the Hines College alumnus’ commitment to safeguarding Houston’s historic and influential architectural past.

Alumni Spotlight: Micki Washington (M.Arch. '04)
Micki Washington (M.Arch. '04) is the Workplace Strategy and Change Management Lead for the Americas at BP. Her work includes developing strategies for businesses and gathering research on a variety of topics that include inclusive design practices, workplace trends, real estate statistics, and more.

Celebrating a Legacy of Urban Planning
On February 6, 2024, the City of Houston proclaimed a day in honor of Margaret Wallace Brown's (B.S.' 83) service to the City and her retirement as the Department of Planning and Development director.

10th Annual Cougar 100 Honors Hines College Alumni
On February 27th, the University of Houston and the University of Houston Alumni Association gathered on campus at the Moores Opera House for a milestone year honoring UH's fastest-growing alumni-owned and operated business.

Alumni Spotlight: William Williams ('89)
William Williams' ('89) time at UH helped him learn to collaborate with others. He said, "The Hines College has always been one of the most diverse programs in the country, and I mean that in ways beyond its clear racial diversity."

Alumni Spotlight: Fernando Brave (M.Arch. '88)
An accomplished architect, Fernando Brave (M.Arch '88) reflects on his firm's practices: "I am particularly fond of the fact that we primarily serve community-based projects. We work with clients whose missions are, in different ways, to improve the quality of life in the region."

Alumni Spotlight: Cindy Villarreal ('07)
Cindy Villarreal, AIA, MBA, WELL AP ('07) finds her diverse work rewarding as well as being an example of a minority woman architect. She said, "There were many voices (and statistics) along the way that all said my becoming a registered architect was highly unlikely, but the voice inside me that believed I would be was the loudest. I hope to be that positive voice for someone."

Alumni Spotlight: Sean Fleming (MAAS '20)
Sean Fleming (MAAS '20) studied architecture history before continuing his studies at the Hines College. Now a photographer, he shared, "Many architectural photographers I look up to were once architects themselves or formally studied design, and I believe their education shows in their work."

Alumni Spotlight: Alyse Makarewicz ('97)
Alyse Makarewicz ('97) studied architecture to combine her analytical and creative strengths. Since then, she started her firm 18 years ago to help keep women in architecture. Recently, AMB Architects was selected as AIA Houston's Firm of the Year 2023.
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