Featuring Black Owned Business on
AfroBiz World - Black Women Leaders in America:
Samantha continues her commitment to her community in hopes of raising the percentage of black women in the STEM fields as a member of the National Organization of Minority Architect's (NOMA) New York Chapter. Samantha also spearheaded Project Pipeline, an architectural day camp for elementary students. Some of Samantha's work has been exhibited at the United Nations Visitors Center.
Her interest in architecture first started when she went house hunting with her mother as a kid. Her mother loved bringing her along because she was her second pair of eyes and would narrate how one would move through the spaces. She was also never impressed with the layouts of the homes; they never seemed to have a good flow! These homes went up very quickly as mass produced cookie-cutter types, leaving Samantha curious as to why anyone would settle for something that didn’t work.
Applying to and getting accepted at Penn State was the first big milestone. She was actually questioned by the high school guidance counselor why she didn’t choose going to a HBUC - Historically Black University College and University - like everyone else around Her. She responded by telling the counselor that she wanted to go to a school that reflects what the real world looks like - which then became a regretful statement many times along the journey.
School was a mix of emotions and experiences. Not only she had to learn about architecture, but also about how different her culture was compared to majority of her classmates. These differences helped her to be well aware of how architecture can be used as a tool of diplomacy between cultures, and to this day shape the way she approaches the field. While in school,she studied abroad three times with different programs – a week-long study abroad to Berlin by way of the Sociology Department studying cultural diplomacy, a semester long program in Rome with the Architecture Department studying Architecture, and then a 6 week program in Tanzania with the Landscape Architecture Department studying rural land planning.
The most valuable lesson she learned from school though was to stay dedicated to your craft and yourself; from there you will gain the ability to help others. While in school she also developed a strong work ethic and understanding of life's imperfections, allowing her to be aware and mentally fit to take on the treacherous yet beautiful journey of being an architect.
Finally, Samantha, what has been your general approach to your career?
I’ve held on to two philosophies: "Brick by Brick" and "Less is More". Brick by brick reminds me that I got to where I am today because I saw the journey I was on and understood I couldn’t do everything at once, but I could one step at a time. Less is more was something I learned along the way. Instead of trying to do everything to make myself feel equal to my peers or environment I learned to do less, resulting in more of me. It now shines through in my design, social encounters, fashion, and love for my life!
Also having a focused mind allows me to emerge in my craft. Time management has taught me to be rational with the complexity of Architecture, in the sense of taking a huge complex problem and breaking it down to where it is manageable to digest without being overwhelming. As an architect and community leader I believe if I remain calm the synergy between my team and I will remain powerful."
