Austin, TX—Jon Alan Baker, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, of San Diego, California, was elected as first vice president/president-elect of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) at the organization’s 2022 Annual Business Meeting. Baker has previously served on the NCARB Board of Directors as second vice president, treasurer, secretary, and Region 6 director. By virtue of his election, Baker will become president of the organization, which facilitates licensure and credentialing for architects in the United States, in June 2023.
During the next two years, Baker will focus on addressing opportunities and challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession, exploring pathways that could provide broader access to the architecture profession for underrepresented groups.
Baker is a former member of the California Architects Board, which he served on from 2005-2018, including four terms as the board’s president. In 2007 and 2016, he was elected by his peers as the chair of NCARB’s Region 6—of which the California Board is a member. He first joined the NCARB Board of Directors as the Region 6 director from 2010-12, and was elected to the national Board again in 2018.
For nearly 15 years, Baker has offered his time and expertise to NCARB’s volunteer initiatives, including several related to the development of the national architecture licensing exam. He has also served on the Audit, Education, Experience, Experience Advisory, Policy Advisory, and Regional Leadership committees, several of which he chaired. Baker has represented NCARB on a number of National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) visiting teams, which evaluate college architecture programs.
As a principal with DLR Group—an integrated international design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization—Baker specializes in the design and planning of educational facilities throughout Southern California. He is the former president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Diego chapter, previously serving eight years as a board member and two years on the AIA California Council board. In 2009, Baker was elevated into the AIA College of Fellows in recognition of his service to the profession.
Baker is a dedicated volunteer both within and outside of the architecture profession, serving as a member of San Diego’s Downtown Community Planning Council and previously volunteering for the Jr. Achievement Board of Directors, the Building Industry Association, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, and more. He has served on the NewSchool of Architecture & Design’s Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) Advisory Committee since 2015.
Baker attended California Polytechnic State University. He has been NCARB certified for 30 years and is licensed in 10 states, including California.
About NCARB
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate. Connect with NCARB on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
