Architectural Scholarship Recipients 

Asia Williams

Currently engaged on the Master Plan Advisory Group for the City of Detroit, Asia Williams is dedicated to merging culture and design. Asia previously contributed at Albert Khan Associates and in the Hip Hop Architecture Fellowship. She holds a Bachelors and Masters of Architecture, along with a Masters of Community Development, from the University of Detroit Mercy.  

“For me, “architect” is not just a title. It’s a declaration that I belong, that I lead, and that I build. As a Black woman from the East Side of Detroit, architecture was never handed to me, it was claimed. I had to carve space where none existed, creating pathways not just for myself but for the next generation who look like me, dream like me, and deserve to see themselves in this profession. I hold three degrees and stand rooted in purpose. Licensure is my next step, not for validation, but for elevation. My work fuses culture and construction, memory and material. From Hip Hop Architecture studios to revitalizing inner-city neighborhoods, I’ve used design as both resistance and healing. I believe architecture should reflect the soul of its community. Licensure isn’t a finish line it’s the power to shape cities, to challenge systems, to redefine who gets to be called “architect.”

Telicious Robinson, Fitwell Ambassador, NOMA, AIA Assoc. LEED GA

Telicious is committed to advancing healthcare design to improve patient, care giver and staff experiences. She has led a diverse range of projects for over 13 years. Telecious serves as Vice President of DCNOMA and was selected for AIA’s Next to Lead cohort. Telicious earned her Master in Architecture from Boston Architectural College as well as Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Bowling Green State University and Kent State University.

“Becoming a licensed architect is deeply personal to me. It represents resilience, representation, and the fulfillment of a lifelong commitment to serve communities that often feel unseen in the spaces where they heal, learn, and gather. Licensure is more than a professional milestone—it is a symbol of possibility. As a Black woman in architecture, I know the sobering statistics of how few of us exist in this profession. Achieving licensure means breaking barriers, but it also means paving a clearer path for those who come after me. When students or young professionals I mentor in DCNOMA, Project Pipeline, or my Revit courses at Kent State see me earn my license, they will know that they, too, belong here.”

Interior Design Scholarship Recipient 

Azauria McDuffie

Azauria is a Staff Architect/Designer at Studio Alliance, dedicated to promoting exposure for young diverse students to interior design and championing mentorship opportunities for these budding professionals. Azauria holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Virginia Tech.

“Being the only black woman in my graduating interiors studio felt uneasy at first. It was hard to relate to my peers and even harder for things to resonate with me in an industry that didn’t look like me. Over time, my feelings of unease developed into feelings of determination. I found solace whenever I saw other Black Americans in positions of influence within our industry. Seeing them shine a light on how I wasn’t alone and that there needs to be more exposure in our community, help me feel less like the odd one out. Working at Studio Alliance, I got to experience working at one of the most diverse firms I’ve ever seen. My first time representing my firm at a career fair was especially eye-opening because for the first time, I was in a position where other young black and brown designers could see me and think, “I’m not alone, there’s a place for me.” My favorite part of designing is the passing on of knowledge and lessons learned, that our experiences shape new design.”