Mills melds a passion for architecture with unique experience empowering others.

(January 7. 2025—Sacramento, CA) Carina Mills, AIA, who uses her considerable skills empowering colleagues to be engaged professionals through her passion and expertise in talent development, will lead the largest American of Institute Architects state component in 2025 as President, AIA California.

Mills began her architectural journey addressing the specialized requirements of healthcare renovation projects, prior to championing talent development as Senior Director of Talent Management of RDC-Studio One Eleven in 2019.

“[I am] dedicated to elevating esteem and value of the profession—striving to inspire, connect, and mentor architectural professionals at all levels of experience,” she said of the catalyst for her seeking AIA California’s highest leadership role.

This belief has long translated in contributions during her previous elected positions at AIA California. Originally focused on empowering emerging professional as Vice President of the Academy of Emerging Professionals, Mills advocated for evolving models of membership, and that talent development should be more inclusive and honor varying strengths and talents across the career spectrum. This interest in advocating for changes in workplace culture continued as she served as Vice President of Professional Practice in 2023. As 2024 VP/President Elect, Mills helped lead the completion of AIA California’s recent restructuring of its Board of Directors—a careful and considered two-year process.

Mills’ election to the AIA California presidency is the culmination of over a decade of service positions within the organization.

As AIA California’s 2025 president, Mills will head the organization’s twelve-member Executive Committee which is charged with implementing policy set by AIA California’s full Board of Directors and overseeing operations of the organization. She will be joined by:

Newly Elected AIA California Executive Committee Members:

• 2025 First Vice President/President-Elect: Ginger Thompson, AIA – DPR Construction
• 2025-2026 VP of Government Relations: Laura Knauss, AIA – Lionakis
• 2025-2026 VP of Communications and Public Affairs: Carol Lanham, AIA – DBIA
• 2025-2026 VP of California CACE: Kristine Hammond, MBA – AIA Long Beach/South Bay
• 2025-2027 AIA Strategic Councilor (National Position): Winston Thorne, AIA – Winston Thorne Architect
• 2025-2027 Young Architect Representative (National Position): Magdalini Eleni Vraila, AIA – Rottet Studio

Re-elected:

• 2025-2026 VP of Education and Professional Development: Amy Eliot, AIA – SFO

Already Sitting on Executive Committee:

• Secretary/ Treasurer: Sujendra Mishra, AIA – HDR
• VP of Professional Practice, Darrell “Rocky” S. Rockefeller, AIA – Rockefeller Partners Architects
• VP of Professional Practice VP of Climate Action: Lynn N. Simon, FAIA – ARUP
• VP of Strategic Planning & Research: Robert Drew Weigl, AIA – AXIA Architects

Elected to the Board of Directors:

• 2025-2026 Associate Director, South: Rebekah Dalton, Assoc. AIA – Ethosphere Studio
• 2025-2026 Student Director South: Kyle Kim – USC

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About the American Institute of Architects California (AIA CA)
AIA California is dedicated to serving its members, and uniting all architecture professionals in the design of a more just, equitable, and resilient future through advocacy, education, and political action. The organization represents the interests of more than 11,000 architects and allied professionals in California. Founded in 1944, the AIA CA is the largest component of the national AIA organization. For more information, visit www.aiacalifornia.org