2019 Women’s Reunion + Symposium

In September 2019, the School of Architecture hosted a reunion and symposium for our alumnae. This two-day event examined, celebrated, and recognized multiple generations of women graduates from the School. The event, and parallel exhibition, were organized by faculty members Sara Bartumeus Ferré, Marci Uihlein, and Andrea Melgarejo de Berry, with assistance from numerous graduate and undergraduate students.

The event and exhibit received a 2021 Diversity Achievement Honorable Mention from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).

Attendees of the women's symposium at a table

Women's Reunion + Symposium

On September 26, 2019, alumnae, faculty, and students of the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came together for the Women’s Reunion + Symposium, including nearly 200 of the 2400 living female graduates. Over the next two and a half days, fifteen alumnae engaged the audience with their architectural and professional practices through panels and keynote lectures.

Designed to accompany the symposium, the Revealing Presence: Women in Architecture at the University of Illinois, 1874–2019 exhibit opened at the Krannert Art Museum the same weekend with 170 alumnae contributors. With five thousand square feet, the exhibit illuminated the breadth of architectural work by women, their contribution to the built environment, and the architectural education community to which they belong. The goal of the two events was to examine, celebrate, and recognize our alumnae’s role in architecture.

image of the speaker schedule for the symposium — Schedule and speakers

audience members raising hands at the symposium — Symposium attendees at the Krannert Art Museum

“Revealing Presence: Women in Architecture at the University of Illinois, 1874-2019” exhibition at the Krannert Art Museum

detail of exhibition materials along a wall at the museum

Exhibit visitors at the Krannert Art Museum viewing the women's symposium exhibit