Kent State University alumnus Cooper Moore, '21, was recently elected the President of the Board of Directors for the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) after graduating in the fall.
As president, Moore will lead the board during discussions and decisions. His other responsibilities include helping run the organization, marketing and carrying out the organization’s strategic plan. He will serve for a one year term in Washington, D.C.
“I got my dream job, and I get to do that for the next two years,” Moore said.
After his time with the AIAS, Moore plans to work the following year part-time as the student director for the Strategic Council of the American Institute of Architects.
The AIAS is a student-run non-profit organization working to promote leadership, design and service. The organization advocates for architecture students and maintains a global presence. Presidents must be students at the time they run, but can be recent graduates while they serve. 
Moore learned about AIAS during his first year at Kent State. The following spring, he attended one of the conferences in Chicago, Illinois, and fell in love, he said. Moore also held multiple positions such as the Midwest Quad Director before deciding to run for president.
"I was a treasurer of our chapter for two years, I was our vice president and I was on the national board and just continued from there," he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after Moore began working as the quad director. As he worked on the national level adapting to the challenges brought on by the pandemic, the organization had conversations about what was going on and what they could do better. This is when he decided he wanted to run for president.
“I just really wanted to continue those conversations in hope to find some answers and leave it better than I found it,” Moore said.
Winning the election as a Kent State graduate is special to him. The administration has been supportive, understanding and providing of opportunities, he said.
“When I say I wouldn’t be doing this without them, that’s not an understatement,” Moore said.
In the future, he wants to find a job that merges his love for politics and architecture.
“There’s so much more to architecture and design than what’s happening in your classes,” Moore said. “So get out there and see it.”
For more information on the American Institute of Architecture Students, visit www.aias.org. For more information on the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, visit www.kent.edu/caed.