Intern Think Tank

Traditionally, NCARB committees are comprised of practicing architects and executives from the jurisdictional boards. In December 2012, NCARB welcomed 12 interns from across the country to Washington, DC, for the first annual Intern Think Tank (ITT). During the two-day meeting, members were given a platform to analyze the Intern Development Program’s (IDP) real-world effectiveness, explore “blue-sky” ideas related to licensure, and share innovative ideas with Council leadership.

Led by Think Tank Chair R. Corey Clayborne, AIA, LEED AP^BD+C, interns participated in engaging discussions, gave individual presentations, and then broke into teams to conduct further research. “After all of the discussions we had, we agreed that the existing internship program is a successful model,” Clayborne said. “But we wanted to look at how we could make the program stay relevant in a continually evolving profession.” Over the next several months, the teams met via conference call to compile reports for the Council’s Internship Committee and the Board of Directors.

ITT members presented their proposals to industry leadership at the NCARB Annual Meeting (June 2013) and IDP Coordinators Conference (July 2013). While each proposal retained elements of the current IDP, members envisioned a program that facilitates greater overlap among education, examination, and experience requirements—reducing the overall time to earn licensure. To read an excerpt of the proposals, click here.

When asked to describe the most surprising aspect of the experience, several participants pointed to NCARB’s commitment to transparency. “There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that we don’t always learn about as interns,” said Megan Schoch, Assoc. AIA of Seattle, WA. “And it was rewarding to hear more about NCARB’s initiatives.” Added Michael Daly, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP^BD+C, of Fuquay-Varina, NC, “They gave interns a voice and were very open with us, showing a level of transparency.”

2012 Intern Think Tank Charges

● Identify the most successful elements of the current internship program, and suggest opportunities or related concepts that could enhance their effectiveness or increase their usage.

● Identify the most challenging elements of the current internship program and suggest options that could alleviate the problem, while ensuring equivalent or better experience.

● Propose new “blue-sky” concepts aimed at achieving a comprehensive experience requirement for licensure as
an architect.

● Consider the value, appropriateness, need, and interest in establishing a pre-licensure credential. If deemed to be a favorable concept, propose a framework for such a credential.

Intern Think Tank Members:

Chair: R. Corey Clayborne, AIA, LEED AP^BD+CRichmond, VA

Michael Archer
Brooklyn, NY

Sarah Bowers, Assoc. AIA
Baton Rouge, LA

Michael Daly, NCIDQ, LEED APB^D+C
Fuquay Varina, NC

Anthony Gary
Indianapolis, IN

Jerome Hamman
Denver, CO

Katie Johnston, LEED AP
Omaha, NE

Aarti Kathuria
Providence, RI

Evan Mullen
Portsmouth, NH

Samira Pasha, Ph.D.
Washington, DC

Lauren Rosenberg
Columbus, OH