AIA St. Louis Governance
AIA St. Louis Chapter is governed by a ten member Board of Directors elected by its members. The Board of Directors establish the Strategic Plan, objectives and policies for the Chapter and steward its resources.
The 2024 Board of Directors is listed below with contact information: 
President
Melissa Harlan, AIA Kiku Obata & Co. | An Arkansan born in upstate New York, Melissa is passionate about her family, community-focused design, and working towards a just and sustainable society in which her son and other’s sons and daughters can thrive. She is an architect at Kiku Obata, where she currently works on community projects in Alton, IL. Melissa’s work on the Rung for Women headquarters inspires her to design for everyone, seek empowerment for herself and others in the architectural community, and help build pathways to the profession for minority students in the St. Louis Region. Melissa is a member of the AIA St. Louis Awards Committee, past chair of the AIA Small Project Design Knowledge Community, and current president of the Professional Advisory Board at the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. She holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard, a Bachelor of Architecture from University of Arkansas, and a B.S. in Agriculture from Arkansas State University. Melissa had the honor of jurying the 2020 AIA Small Project Awards, 2020 AIA Small Project Grant, 2020 AIA Gold Medal, and 2020 AIA Firm of the Year. In her non-abundant spare time, she can be found cooking, gardening, hiking, or skiing.
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Past-President
Erik Biggs, AIA Jacobs | Erik is a licensed architect with over 10 years design experience. His projects range from civic and cultural institutions to retail and medical. He holds a Masters in Architecture from the University of Kansas and was a participant in the school’s Studio 804 program. Erik currently serves on the Board of Directors for AIA St. Louis, USGBC – Missouri Gateway Chapter, and as President-Elect for the Board of Directors for AIA Missouri. Previously he has served as Director on the Board of Association of Preservation Technology – Central Plains and Chair of Young Architects Forum St. Louis. As a St. Louis City resident, he has a passion for historic St. Louis architecture and preservation. In his free time, he volunteers for Rebuilding Together Build Days and as a Speaker Facilitator at TEDx St. Louis.
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President-Elect
Leslie Garner, AIA Saint Louis Zoo | Leslie Garner joined the Zoo team in 2018 as the Sustainability Coordinator. In 2019, she was promoted to the role of Director of Architecture and Construction, charged with managing the design and construction of the Saint Louis Zoo's new WildCare Park property. By blending her two passions of architecture and construction she is able to ensure that the Zoo’s aesthetic, animal care and welfare, conservation, sustainability and budgetary goals are met. Leslie holds an undergraduate degree in interior design from the University of Missouri, as well as a dual master's degree from Washington University in St. Louis in Architecture and Construction Management. She is a registered architect who is eager to promote the architectural and construction professes ion within the St. Louis area. She has served on MSU’s Women in Leadership Advisory Board, and now serves on the Women in Leadership Executive Program Advisory Board for Minnesota State University, Mankato. Leslie is the 2023 Co-Chair of the AIA Women in Architecture St. Louis Committee and a member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. | 
Secretary
Steven Lichtenfeld,
AIA Emeritus City of Clayton | As a Professional Architect for over forty years, Steve has developed leadership in communication, problem solving, creativity, and time management in architectural planning and design. His interest in helping improve lives led him to expertise in community focused and institutional facilities. Steve’s professional journey began at Washington University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1971, followed by a Master of Architecture Degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1973. After receiving his degrees, Steve returned to St. Louis to join The Wischmeyer Architects where he increased his knowledge by focusing on the planning, design, documentation, and project management of hospitals, medical related facilities, education, and research facilities. His professional growth led him to become a Principal-in-Charge at The Wischmeyer Architects, and subsequently at ACE/Bolands, and BSA LifeStructures. With vision, focus, and teamwork throughout his career, his approach developed many long-term client relationships. Through identifying and mentoring young architects, Steve has been active in talent development for next-generation leaders in the profession. While actively engaged in his architectural practice, with commitment to improve lives and his community, he volunteered on several boards and committees for the City of Clayton and the Clayton School District. In 2003, he ran for and was elected as an Alderman in the City of Clayton and served for three consecutive terms. Following that term-limited position, in 2012, he become the appointed Chairman of the City of Clayton Plan Commission and Architectural Review Board, a position which he currently holds. Throughout his professional career, and currently, Steve has maintained membership in the AIA (National, Missouri, and St. Louis Chapters) and is supportive of their goals of both promoting the architectural profession and improving the health, safety, and enjoyment of the life for citizens through leadership, planning, and design of the built environment. | 
Treasurer
Evan Bronstein, AIA Jacobs | Evan brings to the Jacobs team 27 years of project design and project management experience. In these capacities, he has worked on initiatives serving a variety of market segments and a range of public and private client entities. His strengths in listening, critical thinking and communicating complex ideas in a manner that is clear and direct, has enabled him to effectively design projects as divergent as veterinary hospitals, medical offices, park pavilions, mission critical structures, restaurants, as well as casinos and hotels. In practice, such sensibilities enable Evan to quickly assess and disseminate design opportunities that facilitate the operational objectives of a project, while imparting important experiential and aesthetic factors. Evan utilizes his time away from Jacobs focusing on youth engagement and mentoring in the arts. As an adjunct faculty member at both Maryville University and the Center of Creative Arts he has been actively involved in developing various courses to serve the development and knowledge of both college and elementary level learners. The curriculum he has developed span classes in lighting, digital media, furniture and building design, interior design, drawing, art history and human factors.
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Director
Nneoma Asinugo, AIA
Arcturis | Nneoma is a licensed architect with experience in multifamily residential, corporate, hospitality and higher education projects. Her goal is to positively impact people through transformative design. As such, she seeks to create sustainable environments that are also socially responsible, inspiring, and that enhance everyday life. A Nigerian now settled in St. Louis, Nneoma holds a Master of Architecture from Kansas State University, receiving the AIA Henry Adams Medal and Certificate upon graduation. She enjoys introducing the architecture profession to potential emerging architects and values the opportunity to reach a diverse set of young students through events such as career fairs. Nneoma is also the2024 Chair of the AIA St. Louis J.E.D.I. committee. | 
Director
Christina Brown, AIA Mackey Mitchell Architects | Christina is a licensed architect in Missouri with nation-wide experience in education, corporate, and civic projects. She is inspired by the idea that architecture can have a positive impact on communities, and this drives her desire to meet clients’ strategic needs on every project. Through various Master Planning projects as a project designer at Mackey Mitchell Architects, she has demonstrated the ability to transform complex problems into thoughtful design solutions. Always an advocate for new and better technology as design tools, Christina contributes to the Extended Reality software implementation in the St. Louis office and is a licensed drone pilot. She currently serves on the AIA St. Louis Board of Directors and is the Vice Chair for the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program. Native to St. Louis, she finds inspiration in historic architecture and is passionate about the ongoing development and revitalization efforts that are happening throughout the city. |  Director Emily Howard, AIA PGAV Destinations | Emily has spent the majority of her career at PGAV. She can do it all, from drawing details to leading campus master plans, and has worked on projects that include Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Center, Discovery Cove, and Georgia Aquarium. She guides teams through complex projects while fostering mentorship and professional growth. By aligning strategic planning with creative problem-solving, Emily brings her clients’ visions to life, elevating projects to their highest potential and ensuring impactful, long-lasting results. |  Director Chrissy Rogers, AIA Arcturis | As an architect, Chrissy listens to clients and guides her teams towards innovative solutions. Her devotion to sustainability pushes the firm towards making decisions that protect and improve the environment. She encourages the team to think outside the box in developing green solutions for common project issues. A passionate philanthropist, Chrissy leads the firm’s community efforts to ensure that the firm’s dedication to giving back is utilized most effectively. | 
Associate Director
Nick Rauscher, AIA
M+H Architects | Nick is a licensed architect with a passion for making change. His experience spans commercial, industrial, mission critical, and multi-family projects across the country. Nick holds the charge of an architect tall: to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. He’s been honored to receive the AIA St. Louis Wischmeyer Scholarship during his education and serves as Chair of the AIA St. Louis Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. Nick holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Drury University. A graduate of the AIA St. Louis Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program, he’s committed to professional growth and the advancement of our regional industry. Outside of the office, Nick is an assistant swim coach for an area year-round youth swim team. He enjoys running, swimming, and biking in his spare time. |
Interested in joining the AIA St. Louis Board of Directors? - Learn more about the application process HERE
AIA Missouri To learn more about the AIA Missouri Board of Directors representing AIA St. Louis, CLICK HERE.
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