EMERGING PROFESSIONALS 2024
COMMITTEE CHAIR BIOS
Chair
Morgan Sumner, Assoc. AIA
Designer, Bestor Architecture
Morgan Sumner is a young, emerging professional actively on her journey to take up space in the professional space of architecture. She is a graduate of Arizona State University (BSD, 2016) and The University of Southern California (M.Arch, 2018). Her passions are at the intersection of culture and creativity and has kept this focus throughout her journey. She is currently [excitedly] working at Bestor Architecture and is actively taking steps towards licensure. She also uses architectural training in her graphic design company, Poche Design Studio, which aims to occupy + amplify the Black space in design.
Vice Chair
Cynthia Sigler, Assoc. AIA
HKS
Cynthia is an Architectural Designer motivated by the impact that our built environment has, from the macro to the micro scale. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BArch 19’). She began her career in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles in 2021. A member of HKS Los Angeles’ Commercial Mixed-Use Studio, Cynthia is also actively pursuing licensure. She is passionate about supporting the newest members of our profession navigate the workforce. Some of her other interests include sketching and watercoloring, seeing new places, and working on her DIY home projects.
Past Chair
Miranda Gardiner, Assoc. AIA
Climate Accord
With 16+ years of experience, Miranda Gardiner is the Executive Director of the iMasons Climate Accord (ICA) — a coalition united on carbon reduction in digital infrastructure, influencing market-based decisions and driving the industry to achieve carbon neutrality.
Miranda is an enthusiastic author and public speaker who clearly communicates with peers, clients, and corporations to achieve ambitious sustainability goals. She is passionate about the environment and improving sustainability practices through local and global engagement, with a proven record of working for internationally recognized organizations like Meta and the US Green Building Council. Additionally, she is distance running coach and cycling instructor, who believes that caring for oneself resonates in caring for the planet; she has completed 8 marathons and 3 ultramarathons.
