How are hiring decisions made in architecture firms? What factors differentiate one applicant from others in a pool of qualified applicants? What are some characteristics of a successful portfolio that leads to an invitation for an interview? What are the traits and skills sought by firms and how do you communicate these in the cover letter? What are examples of mistakes to avoid?

Join us to hear from leaders in the Bay Area architecture community who will share advice with students transitioning into the profession. The panelists will engage in real talk on how hiring decisions are made in architecture firms.

Friday, July 25, 2025

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (PDT)

Virtual Event on Zoom. This event is free for students

Register on the AIA SF website to receive a Zoom link. If you aren’t able to attend live, please register to receive a recording of the event.

Panelists

We are excited to announce AIA SF Board Members who have generously agreed to donate their time and wisdom. As mentors to young architects and students, they will be answering questions and share guidance essential to the job search process.

Yakuh Askew, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, Founding Principal, Y.A. studio

Julie Jackson, AIA LEED AP, Founding Principal, Jackson Liles Architecture

Gregg Novicoff, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Caroline Souza, AIA, LEED GA, Principal, David Baker Architects

Yakuh Askew, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP

Founding Principal, Y.A. studio

AIASF Board Vice President

Yakuh Askew is the founder and principal of Y.A. studio, a San Francisco based architectural practice. At Y.A. studio, he has built a design team that excels in the design of restaurants, offices and both single-family and multi-family residences; however, he takes particular pride in his work on over 1200 permanently affordable residential units within San Francisco. Diversity, equity, sustainability and social responsibility are key focuses professionally and personally. Yakuh was previously a member of the San Francisco Arts Commission and a member of the Civic Design Review Committee.

Julie Jackson, AIA LEED AP

Founding Principal, Jackson Liles Architecture

AIASF Board Asst. Treasurer

As the co-founder and Principal of Jackson Liles Architecture (JLA), Julie leverages nearly three decades of architectural expertise, with experience in a versatile range of projects across industrial, non-profit, commercial, educational, residential, and interior design projects. JLA’s completed and in-progress work spans the US including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Oxnard, Miami, New York City, and the San Juan Islands in Washington state.

Julie currently serves as Asst. Treasurer for the AIASF Board of Directors, and was formerly a Secretary  and a Director at Large. Julie chaired the AIASF Small Firms Knowledge Community in 2020 & 2021, and was the co-chair in 2019.

Beyond her professional achievements, Julie is a mom to 2 young adults and a former 4 term PTA President in San Francisco public schools. Her advocacy for children & families permeates her work, adding a layer of passion and purpose to the projects she leads at JLA.

Julie grew up and attended college in Ohio, earning her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati in 1994. Following her passion for design and seeking a diverse, vibrant place to start her career, she made her journey to San Francisco shortly after graduation. Licensed as a California Architect in 1997, Julie has also earned her LEED AP and SEED (Social Economic Environmental Design) professional accreditations. Julie has proven success in working collaboratively as a part of varied team structures consisting of developers, contractors, consultants, governmental agencies, and other architectural firms on projects large and small.

Gregg Novicoff, AIA, LEED AP

Principal, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

AIASF Board Treasurer

 Gregg Novicoff is a Principal with Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. He has worked closely with his clients to produce creative and thoughtful solutions — buildings that perform a vital role in leading the way to an environmentally and socially sustainable future. His diverse body of work includes cultural, educational and civic projects in both new construction and the adaptive reuse of existing and historic structures. Gregg’s recent projects include the Commonwealth Club of California, the Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House, and Mission Bay Block 3 East, housing for families and formerly homeless veterans.

Caroline Souza, AIA, LEED GA

Principal, David Baker Architects

AIASF Board Director at large

Caroline Souza is a Principal at David Baker Architects, a nationally known, locally focused architecture and urban design firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Birmingham, Alabama. She is a skilled architect and leader in social justice-focused design, including affordable housing and design for underserved communities. Through nearly a decade with DBA, Caroline has expanded her role as an architect communicator and widely shared her knowledge as a housing expert. She has been a mentor and advocate for upcoming industry professionals, serving on the steering committee for the NPH Emerging Leaders Peer Network, participating in Enterprise’s Affordable Housing Leadership Institute, and providing ongoing support of DBA staff professional development.

Previously, she was a volunteer editor for SOILED magazine, a scrappy architectural periodical based in Chicago.  Her excursions outside the field of architecture include graphic design, assembling theater sets, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and improving crop quality at agricultural research labs and fields.