Episode 100: Honoring Desiree V. Cooper Through Legacy and Scholarship,
We celebrate this 100th episode with the recipients of The DVC Memorial Scholarship. The 2025 recipients are Taylor Latimer (Harrisburg Memorial Award), Cheryl Dixon (DC Memorial Award), Makenzie Anane Elam (NOMA Award), and Leslie Aileen Ponce-Diaz (Honorable Mention). The conversation opens with introductions from long-time friends of Desiree (Nikolas Hill, Carol Smith Twyman, Morina Peterson, Katherine Williams), who reflect on her legacy and the challenges of navigating the architectural profession. Recipients share how they discovered the scholarship, often through networking at NOMA events, and speak candidly about balancing the demands of rigorous exams with professional responsibilities. Together they explore ways to expand the scholarship’s impact by suggesting resources for study materials, fostering stronger community ties among recipients, and establishing a shared network directory. The discussion concludes with heartfelt gratitude for the support and recognition the scholarship provides. This year’s recipients each received $1,410 toward their exams.
Makenzie Elam is a young black woman born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She is a three time graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design. Makenzie has a passion for teaching and mentorship of not just the next generation of youth, but the next generation of architects and designers. Makenzie currently volunteers at one of her local hospitals as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Volunteer as a Baby Cuddler and a Girl Scout Troop Leader/Volunteer for one of the local chapters in her area.
A proud native ATL-ien and two-time alumna of Tuskegee University, Cheryl is an architectural designer, who provides a multidisciplinary approach to the built environment. With an affinity for design-build and hands on collaboration, Cheryl values opportunities to connect clients and industry experts to devise innovative solutions. Pairing her background in construction management with her strengths in architectural and interior design, Cheryl enthusiastically enjoys contributing to the full life cycle of a project, from schematic ideation and programmatic strategy to turn-key constructed implementation. Outside of work, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her parents and family, volunteering with graduate members of her sorority, traveling to live music performances, playing tennis, crate digging at vinyl record stores, and trying new vegan eats.
Taylor Latimer is a Designer at OCA Architects in Newark, New Jersey. With over seven years of experience in the Architecture field, she has contributed to a wide range of projects across the U.S., including mixed-use residential, educational, public, hospitality, and transportation developments. Taylor brings a distinct lens to her work—one rooted in cultural awareness, user empathy, and social impact. Her approach to design is grounded in the three pillars of sustainability: environmental responsibility, economic viability, and social equity. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University, with additional studies in business and real estate development. As the current President of the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Taylor is a fierce advocate for equity in the profession. In addition to her professional work, Taylor is deeply invested in mentorship and education.
Morina Peterson, AIA, NOMA
Morina Peterson has utilized a client-centered approach to project management and sustainable design throughout her career in architecture. After graduating from Hampton University with a Bachelors of Architecture, she has worked on a variety of project types including , education, worship, and healthcare. Throughout her 20+ year career, Morina has served as a mentor and enthusiastically championed and supported various career development initiatives. Currently Morina is the Director of the DC office of Waldon Studio Architects and a senior project manager. Both positions actively utilize her organizational, human resources, sustainability, diversity and inclusion experiences.
Taylor Latimer
Taylor Latimer is a Designer at OCA Architects in Newark, New Jersey. With over seven years of experience in the Architecture field, she has contributed to a wide range of projects across the U.S., including mixed-use residential, educational, public, hospitality, and transportation developments. Taylor brings a distinct lens to her work—one rooted in cultural awareness, user empathy, and social impact.
Her approach to design is grounded in the three pillars of sustainability: environmental responsibility, economic viability, and social equity.
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University, with additional studies in business and real estate development.
As the current President of the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Taylor is a fierce advocate for equity in the profession. In addition to her professional work, Taylor is deeply invested in mentorship and education.
Whether she is rendering a building, reviewing a student’s portfolio, or speaking on Capitol Hill as part of AIA Leadership Summit’s Hill Day, Taylor brings intention, integrity, and action to everything she does. She believes in the power of design to uplift, empower, and heal.
Cheryl Dixon
Designer
A proud native ATL-ien and two-time alumna of Tuskegee University, Cheryl is an architectural designer, who provides a multidisciplinary approach to the built environment. With an affinity for design-build and hands on collaboration, Cheryl values opportunities to connect clients and industry experts to devise innovative solutions. Pairing her background in construction management with her strengths in architectural and interior design, Cheryl enthusiastically enjoys contributing to the full life cycle of a project, from schematic ideation and programmatic strategy to turn-key constructed implementation. Outside of work, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her parents and family, volunteering with graduate members of her sorority, traveling to live music performances, playing tennis, crate digging at vinyl record stores, and trying new vegan eats.
Nikolas Xenophon Hill
Facility Design Manager/Lover of Shrubs and Donuts
Long career working in architectural design firms, last 8 in E/A firms on transportation infrastructure projects. Work at HDR as a Facility Design Manager in Vehicle Operations & Maintenance Facilities, and as a Project Manager for other transportation multi-disciplinary projects.
Carol Smith Twyman
Sr. PM and Registered Architect
Sr. Project Manager for the last 5 years with the Architect of the Capitol. Previously I worked as Project managers and Sr. Project Architect with several firms in their DC offices.
Graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Master's of Architecture in 2001.
I came into architecture as a second career, I have a BA in Communications from Penn State in 1992
Makenzie Elam
Makenzie Elam is a young black woman born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She is a three time graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design.
Makenzie has a passion for teaching and mentorship of not just the next generation of youth, but the next generation of architects and designers. Makenzie currently volunteers at one of her local hospitals as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Volunteer as a Baby Cuddler and a Girl Scout Troop Leader/Volunteer for one of the local chapters in her area.
