NEW HAVEN, CT — The Connecticut Architecture Foundation announces the appointment of new officers and members of its Board of Directors for 2020. Taking the helm as the 2020 Officers:

Stephanie Degen-Monroe, AIA, President of David Thompson Architects in New Haven

Degen-Monroe has practiced as an Architect in Connecticut, New Mexico and California. Her experience has involved large scale civic work as well as small institutional projects. A licensed Architect in Connecticut, Degen-Monroe has worked as Project Architect for public schools in Meriden, Bridgeport and Norwich and has taught at the University of Hartford. She serves as Senior Associate working on projects at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale University. She has served as President of the Board of the Essex Library Association and is a Past President of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Robert E. Swain, Jr., AIA LEED AP, Vice President of Amenta Emma Architects in Hartford

Swain serves as Principal-in-Charge for the firm’s Academic Studio and Principal for the firm’s civic work. With experience on major academic and student life buildings for multiple private and public campuses throughout the region, Swain’s primary focus is on the programming, planning and architectural development of higher education and secondary school projects. Internally, Swain serves as Principal-in-Charge of Finance and Operations. He has lectured at national and regional academic conferences for the Society of College and University Planning, NACUBO and APPA.

Nancy B. Clayton, AIA LEED GA, Secretary of Pickard Chilton in New Haven

Clayton has more than 30 years of design experience on a range of corporate, academic and cultural projects. She has served as Design Director for several corporate high rise and campus projects including the Northwestern Mutual Headquarters and Commons in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is currently Pickard Chilton’s Associate-in-Charge of the Barack H. Obama Magnet University School. In 2017, Clayton was the recipient of the Professional Women in Construction Connecticut Chapter’s Woman of Achievement award.

John P. Franzen, FAIA, Treasurer of J. P. Franzen Associates Architects, P.C. in Fairfield

Franzen brings over 30 years of professional expertise. A graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture, Franzen taught the first-year design studio and intro summer session after an internship with the New York State Historic Trust. He then joined Victor Christ Janer Associates in New Canaan before starting his own firm. As Principal at J.P. Franzen Associates, he practices in residential, commercial and institutional architecture as well as historic preservation. He was awarded an Upjohn Fellowship in 2000, became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2001 and serves on design juries.

Joining the 2020 Board of Directors are Angela Cahill, AIA, and Ilona Prosol, PE, LEED BD+C:

Angela Cahill, AIA, QA+M Architects in Farmington

Cahill has a 20-year career in architecture and has worked on dozens of large, complex projects. For many years, Cahill served as an Adjunct Professor and is currently a Visiting Critic of Architectural Design at the University of Hartford. In addition, she has personally mentored dozens of students and has served on the ACE Mentoring Program’s Advisory Board. In 2017, Governor Dannel Malloy appointed Cahill to the State of Connecticut Architectural Licensing Board.

Ilona Prosol, PE, LEED BD+C, BVH Integrated Services, P.C in Bloomfield

Prosol, a Vice President, serves as a Team Leader at BVH Integrated Services. With 28 years of experience at BVH, her portfolio includes higher education buildings, museums, hospitality projects, schools and courthouses. Focusing on sustainability, recent projects include John W. Olver Design Building at University of Massachusetts Amherst and Sandy Hook Elementary School. Ilona holds LEED AP BD+C certification and Professional Engineering licenses in the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York and serves as a member on the CTGBC Board.