Assistant Director | The City University of New York (CUNY)
An Assistant Director with the City University of New York (CUNY), the largest urban public university system in the United States, responsible for managing design projects at six campuses located in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Prior to CUNY Barbara headed the units responsible for capital projects for the NYPD and public library systems for the NYC Department of Design & Construction (DDC), a city agency. Before entering the public sector in 2010 Barbara worked in the private sector. As an Associate with Fisher Dachs Associates (FDA), a theater design and planning firm, she was responsible for design and management of award-winning performance facilities throughout the United States during her 12 years with the firm. Earlier Barbara practiced architecture at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Prentice & Chan, Ohlhausen Architects.
Barbara has been an active member of AIA New York serving on the Board, as the Oculus Committee chair from 2014 – 2017, and the AIA NY Cultural Facilities Committee Co-Chair from 2004 - 2013. Currently Barbara is a mentor with the AIA NY 2020 Torch Mentorship program. She was also a recipient of an AIA NY LeBrun travel grant in 2000. In 2019 Barbara was appointed to NYC Community Board 5 where she serves on the Landmarks Committee and the Park & Public Space Committee. Barbara received her B.A. from Oberlin College and her M.Arch from UCLA.
Courses
Leadership in Uncertainty: An Honest Conversation on Challenges and Change
Women face a variety of challenges - and opportunities - as they navigate the waters of a career in the field of architecture. From work-life balance and gender-based assumptions to glass ceilings and even go-it-alone entrepreneurship, women often encounter obstacles to finding right-fit roles, upward mobility, and workplace fair-play. This is an unprecedented year with new challenges that are still being overcome and solutions still to be discovered. Join us for this candid and mindful discussion on the challenges and opportunities that women face working in the architecture industry today, as leaders share stories and identify solutions to the obstacles they have encountered this year.
Course expires: 10/31/2026