Tizziana Baldenbro: Meet the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation’s New Executive Director

The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation is a national organization founded in 2002 and is committed to changing the culture of the building industry, for women, through education and research. It was founded by the late Beverly Willis, FAIA, and is uniquely dedicated to women working in architecture, landscape, engineering, construction and real estate — market sectors where less than one-quarter of its leaders are women.

Tizzana Baldenbro, is a noted architecture writer, critic, and curator as well an arts administrator and nonprofit leader. Baldenebro brings perspectives from her upbringing in Los Angeles as well as her activism while living in Chicago, Detroit, and most recently in Cleveland as director of arts nonprofit SPACES. She served in the prominent and high-profile role of commissioner and co-curator of the U.S. Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, adding to her long track record and endorsements by architecture andart world leaders. One critic at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer applauded her as “afront-line participant” in a growing global movement “to upend traditional hierarchies in a quest for racial and social justice.”

“I had the good fortune to meet Beverly shortly before her passing,” says Baldenebro. “I am so moved by the generations of women in our field who risked so much to advance the culture. It makes me deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue that effort with BWAF.”

Our Executive Director, Rebecca Johnson, had a few questions for Baldenbro and read her answers below:

You have such a remarkable resume and clear areas of expertise in architecture and arts writing, curation, and nonprofit leadership. How do you view this position as the evolution/next step in your career? What was particularly exciting to you about leading BWAF?

Thank you so much! The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) is at a critical moment in its history– our namesake, Beverly Willis, recently passed, we have a brand new building space in Hudson Yards, we have new board leadership – a lot of things are in flux right now, so I am working with the board to build a durable platform for the organization. I find myself particularly attracted to opportunities to do a lot of groundwork and expansive thinking. I have found, especially in these leadership roles, that the role is transformed as much as the organization is. Directors really have the power to shift priorities and re-define the mission beyond themselves, so beyond it being a next step in my career, it has the potential to do a lot more for the women in our field. We recently held a board retreat which really helped us all get our energy moving collectively. It is a really a unique moment in time for us.

Shifting the culture in AEC industries to be more inclusive, in particular for women of all backgrounds, is challenging work. What will be your focus to move the needle with respect to shifting culture? And how will you leverage partnerships with like-minded organizations to accomplish your goals?

One thing I learned during the pandemic is that we are whole people, and that means overlapping identities, experiences, encounters, that shift our way of being. I want women to feel more confident entering these roles and fields with all of those intersectional qualities. In a world where women are constantly asked to find a work-life balance, I think bringing your whole self and seeing other people as whole people helps change that narrative. We, alongside like-minded organizations, are working to advocate for shifts in work culture to fight inequities and right past harms. I think building alliances with our peers will help strengthen our advocacy work and have deeper influence in the field.

Besides shifting culture – what other goals do you have for the organization? In other words – is it just about shifting culture? Do you have other goals that you believe will advance BWAF’s mission?

During the board retreat we had a lot of discussions about building programs that last. For me, that begins with programs that matter. I am in the process of getting to know BWAF, listening to our friends and stakeholders, to better understand what programs are successful and what we want to drive forward. I think shifting the culture would be a major feat, if we get there! We are focused on the building blocks, building networks for folks entering the field, making space for women to connect and find paths forward. Already we are receiving outreach from spinoff organizations who want to use our space or want to stay connected to peers. Seeing relationships grow beyond ourselves is really important to the work we do.

What do you want people to know about the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation and how can they support and get involved in your work?

Perhaps most people know us for our podcast, New Angle: Voice, where, alongside our Pioneering Women of American Architecture profiles we celebrate the history of women in our field. Other programs, like "Built by Women," draw attention to the impact of women on our built environment. In our new home, The Bev, we host a series called "Emerging Leaders," where we bring together an impressive group of women in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) to build community. We also have held talks based around so-called “women’s issues” as they emerge in the socio-political sphere. The fact of the matter is that things that affect women affect everyone. Women make up over 50% of our population and are a major part of the work force in AEC. We live in the built environment and we work in the built environment. If something doesn’t work for a woman, you can bet good money that it doesn’t work for a person with disabilities, or a child, or anyone who participates in this world differently from an able-bodied man. Our hope is that everyone participates, everyone attends, everyone is informed. We advocate for women in the field, but women’s issues are ultimately human issues.

You can learn more about Tizziana and the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation here.