Howard University Architecture Professor Nea Maloo Receives 2026 AIA/ASCA Architectural Education Award
Howard University architecture professor Nea Maloo, FAIA, received the 2026 AIA/ACSA Practice and Leadership Award Honorable Mention from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) in partnership with the American Institute of Architects.
Maloo’s project, Entrepreneurship Is Leadership: Redefining Professional Practice, was recognized as an example of best practice in the areas of professional practice and leadership for highly effective teaching, scholarship, and outreach.
It is a true honor to receive this recognition from ACSA and AIA,” said Maloo. “This award affirms the importance of preparing students to lead with creativity, purpose, and entrepreneurial confidence while expanding how architects serve communities and shape the future of the profession,” said Maloo.
The project highlights how entrepreneurial thinking can empower architecture students to become more adaptive, community-centered, globally minded, and visionary creative leaders. Through coursework, mentorship, and applied learning, Maloo’s work encourages students to see professional practice not only as a pathway to licensure, but also as a platform for leadership, advocacy, innovation, and meaningful impact in the built environment.
Maloo continues to receive recognition for her exemplary work in architectural education, leadership and practice. She most recently received the AIA|DC 2025 Architect Educator Award for excellence in the advancement of architectural education through teaching, design, scholarship, research, or service.
Last year, Maloo was also a recipient of the 2025 Department of Energy (DOE) BuildingsNEXT Outstanding Faculty Award, an award that recognizes exceptional faculty members who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to mentoring students in designing high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. Nominated by industry peers, recipients exemplify leadership in advancing building science, sustainability, and climate-responsive design education.
About the AIA/ASCA Architectural Education Awards
Each year, ACSA honors architectural educators for exemplary work in areas such as building design, community collaborations, scholarship, and service. Award winners inspire and challenge students, contribute to the profession’s knowledge base, and extend their work beyond the borders of academy into practice and the public sector.