Chere R. LeClair, FAIA, was accepted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. earlier this year. She is the first female architect from AIA Montana to be accepted into the prestigious College of Fellows, and for this accomplishment alone, she is to be congratulated.

Through her work as a professor, Chere has created a lasting bond between the AIA and the School of Architecture at Montana State.

Chere LeClair has made a growing and lasting impact through her leadership in the Institute. As a leader in the AIA, she has not only advocated for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the Institute and the profession, but she has also put in place the necessary infrastructure to affect change at all levels of AIA leadership and its programs. Chere has been a trailblazer in shifting AIA’s thinking and priorities to meet the challenges of the current moment.

Chere’s achievements include:

• Advocating for and then co-chairing the Strategic Council UN Habitat III New Urban Agenda Study Group, which led to AIA formally adopting NUA principles in its 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. As the current co-chair of the New Urban Agenda Task Force, she continues to work on integrating this paradigm shift in AIA programs, including design for equity and community engagement criteria in the language of the Framework for Design Excellence COTE Top Ten Awards program.
  
  
• Co-chairing the Diversity Study Group as a member of the inaugural first class of the Strategic Council, where she implemented the first implicit bias training for members at Grassroots, the Board and the Strategic Council, and chapter-specific training in her region. This training has continued as part of the Institute’s leadership training.
  
  
• Re-examining traditional models and embracing new career pathways to inform the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice. Chere also conducted background research for the Guide’s chapter on Compensation.
  
  
• Serving as the liaison between the AIA Strategic Council and her own Northwest and Pacific Region and AIA Montana Board, to re-set strategic planning, governance, and core member services, strengthening the connections between AIA National and its regional and local entities, with a focus on smaller, often underserved components.
  
  
• Championing the principles of architecture in service to society and EDI themes in her teaching at Montana State University and developing a seminar course directly focused on integrating NUA strategies into architectural practice. As MSU’s longtime AIAS Advisor, she has mentored countless young architects along a path focused on service and leadership.

Chere’s influence has been felt by many, and her leadership and vision have paved the way for countless numbers that are to come.

AIA Montana congratulates Chere on her acceptance to the College of Fellows and wishes her years of continued success!