After a heated past few months, Miller & Chevalier—the law firm hired to conduct an independent investigation into claims made against AIA CEO Lakisha Ann Woods by 22 former AIA presidents—has concluded its review. The Washington, D.C. law firm found no evidence of wrongdoing, vindicating Woods of previous corruption and mismanagement allegations.
The AIA Board of Directors shared this news in a statement today, August 26, that was published in ARCHITECT Magazine. The statement, shared in full below, details the concerns Miller & Chevalier reviewed in its investigation including a staff retreat to the Dominican Republic, and the AIA’s financial status. It also states that the review produced a list of recommendations the AIA could enact to improve its operations and continue its mission.
“In April 2024, the Council of Former Presidents of AIA and the 2024 Jury of Fellows raised several concerns in letters to the Board of Directors, prompting the Board of Directors to hire an external law firm, Miller & Chevalier, to conduct an independent and legally privileged review of the facts related to the issues raised. The concerns raised in those letters and that Miller & Chevalier reviewed included: AIA staff personnel decisions and practices; the 2024 staff retreat; communications and interactions with the Jury of Fellows; AIA’s current financial status; Officer stipends; and a past legal matter with a Board member. After an exhaustive and comprehensive review, the law firm has concluded its work and presented its findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Based on the facts presented, no wrongdoing or irregular conduct by any AIA staff or any member of the AIA Leadership Team was found to have occurred in connection with the matters raised. The Board has reviewed the law firm’s proposed recommendations for improvement in the areas of policy and process, and we are assessing how best to implement those recommendations. We anticipate sharing additional details regarding these recommendations with our members. We remain committed to advancing AIA, strengthening our membership, and fulfilling our mission and strategic priorities. We are steadfast in our support of AIA CEO and EVP Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE and the AIA senior staff that oversees AIA’s operations as the organization continues to provide members with a best-in-class experience. We would like to thank the AIA staff for their cooperation, and thank the AIA members for their patience and understanding, during this process.”