The AIA has officially announced its search for a new EVP/CEO, after Lakisha Woods stepped down from the role in February. AIA 2024 President Kimberly Dowdell will chair the search committee and Heidrick & Strugglesa New York Citybased executive search firm with an office in Washington, D.C.will support the effort. Stephen T. Ayers has served as interim AIA EVP/CEO since Woods departed in early February. Tonya Muse, a consultant at Heidrick & Struggless Washington, D.C. office, and member of the firms Social Impact and CEO & Board of Directors practices, will lead the team for Heidrick & Struggles.AIAs next leader will be instrumental in advancing the organizations mission and strategic priorities, Dowdell said in a statement. The search committee is committed to a thorough and inclusive process, ensuring we identify a CEO who will continue to drive forward AIAs goals of economic opportunity, inclusivity in the profession and the communities we serve, climate action, and a strong and innovative future for the profession.Aside from Dowdell and Heidrick & Struggles, the search committee includes past and current AIA board members, but also representatives from AIAs Strategic Council, National Associates Committee (NAC), Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), AIA International, and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). AIA said that Heidrick & Struggles will conduct outreach and gather input from AIAs diverse community, helping to shape the CEO position description to reflect the needs and aspirations of the Institute and its members. AIA likewise affirmed its commitment to its core mission of advancing the value of architects and supporting its members in designing a better world.The announcement comes in the waning months after former AIA presidents raised concerns over Woodss leadership, resulting in AIA hiring an independent consultancy to investigate claims made against her, allegations Woods was later vindicated of. The AIA Board of Directors later claimed there was a coordinated effort to discredit Woods and her leadership.A timeline for when the next AIA EVP/CEO will be announced was not given.