Jen Masengarb, Assoc. AIA

Jen Masengarb, Assoc. AIA, is the Executive Director of AIA Chicago and the AIA Chicago Foundation. Trained as an architect, her 25+ year career has been devoted to advocating for the profession and meaningfully connecting the public with the built environment around them.

Masengarb joined AIA Chicago in 2021 following three years at the Danish Architecture Center in Copenhagen where she led DAC’s efforts to expand program offerings, conversations, and outreach to and with international visitors.

Prior to joining DAC, Jen served as the Director of Interpretation and Research at the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), where she served for 18 years in a variety of roles and as a subject matter expert in architecture with a focus on outreach to the public. She served on the leadership team for CAC’s 2018 move to a new center and also authored CAC’s three K-12th grade curricular resources – all of which were awarded AIA National Institute Honor Awards for Collaborative Achievement.

Masengarb holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy and a Master of Architectural History degree from the University of Virginia, where she was named the School of Architecture’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni of the Year.