Subcommittees
The Tulane School of Architecture (TuSA) Alumni Council has three subcommittees, each led by co-chairs. Learn more about each subcommittee and their leadership below.
Student Engagement Subcommittee
The Student Engagement Subcommittee facilitates connections between current students and alumni at local, national, and international levels. The primary goal is to assist students in navigating the early stages of their careers. Annually, this committee organizes informational and networking events bridging the various degrees offered at TuSA. Previous events include a Careers in the Built Environment panel, a Meet the Alumni Council panel, and Preservation Happy Hours.
Josh Mings (M.Arch '12), AIA, Founder and Principal of Aggregate Studio, is committed to providing dignified architecture for everyone. Bringing 14 years of experience with residential and community-based projects, he allows teams to create the best possible projects through knowledge, tenacity, consensus-building, and optimism. He and Aggregate Studio strive to positively impact cities, housing, and residents with dignified design, giving back to the community on projects that span Chicagoland and the Midwest.
Brook Tesler (MPS *14) is an architectural historian and preservationist with a proven track record of impactful work. Currently serving as the Senior Historic Preservation Manager for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, she leads efforts to maintain and preserve historic structures under the purview of churches and deaneries across Southeastern Louisiana. She previously led the VCC Foundation as Executive Director, established Tesler Preservation Consulting, and created the highly regarded Vieux Carré Virtual Library, an immense resource that makes the history of New Orleans’ French Quarter accessible to the public for free.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee advocates for the recruitment of students who are historically and currently underrepresented throughout the programs offered by the Tulane School of Architecture; supports those students during their time at TuSA; and fosters a community into which those students can launch their careers. This advocacy includes oversight of hiring and retention of faculty underrepresented at TuSA; support for NOMAS TU chapter activities; and participation in NOMA chapters around the U.S.
Kekeli Dawes (M.Arch *18), is a designer based in Kansas City, and currently practices at the design firm Multistudio. He graduated from Tulane with an M.Arch in 2018 after studying at the University of Lincoln, Nebraska as an undergraduate. Kekeli has been a founding member of the EDI subcomittee and has served as co-chair since 2021.
Chris Daemmrich (M.Arch '17) is a designer and organizer raised on Tonkawa land in Austin, Texas. He studied on Chitimacha, Choctaw and Houma land at Tulane, graduating with an M.Arch and a B.A. in political science in 2017. Chris is a NOMA Project Pipeline mentor, and serves on the boards of NOMA Louisiana and the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. In his teaching at Tulane and through his company, Collab. | the Collaborative Design Workshop, he prepares students and professionals to challenge unjust systems. Since 2023, Chris has been a project manager for New Orleans community economic development nonprofit Broad Community Connections."
Communications Subcommittee
The Communications Subcommittee seeks to foster the growth of a TuSA alumni network by showcasing the careers and achievements of alumni and to highlight Alumni Council-sponsored activities, events, and community engagement. The subcommittee highlights the achievements of TuSA alumni through social media Alumni Spotlights and provides Alumni Council updates through the semi-annual Alumni Bulletin, website updates, and through direct communications and calls to action in support of the school and Alumni Council-sponsored activities.
J. Marshall Brown (MPS *16), AICP, is an urban planner with a focus on historic preservation and current development review who currently serves as Principal Planner for the Department of Planning and Zoning in Loudoun County, Virginia. He graduated from the Tulane University School of Architecture with a Master of Preservation Studies in 2016. Mr. Brown also holds a Master of City and Regional Planning Clemson University and a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning from Appalachian State University. During is graduate studies at Tulane, Marshall focused biophilic architectural conservation methods and architectural history. Marshall is also an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Stacey Lucas (M.Arch *00), AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, is an Associate at Collins Cooper Carusi Architects in Atlanta, Georgia. Stacey is a licensed architect in Georgia and Massachusetts with 24 years of experience as a project manager. Currently, she specializes in higher education and corporate interiors, as well as custom exterior building canopies.
Some of her recent projects include UCB Pharmaceuticals USA Headquarters (awarded LEED Gold v.4 and WELL Platinum v.2), University of Georgia Terry College of Business Atlanta Campus, Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Business, and the Weber School Athletic Center, Classroom renovation and Black Box Theater, a Learning By Design Fall 2024 Outstanding Project Award winner, the Delta Flight Museum and Berckmans Place at Augusta National.
Questions
Interested in learning more about the Alumni Council? Reach out to Kristen Jones, Director of Student Affairs at kjones41@tulane.edu. To volunteer to serve on the council or nominate someone for the council, fill out this form.