Emerging Professionals

400 FORWARD is honored to assist emerging professionals and connect them to one another on their journeys to licensure—and beyond!

“I have had a long testing journey and 400 FORWARD has helped me in more ways than one. Early on, I reached out to another participant through LinkedIn, and we’ve since formed a friendship, started study sessions, and been overall supportive. We’re excited to see each other win and progress through our lives and careers.”

ZANDRIA TOLLIVER

  • Ashleigh Baker Aiken

    Ashleigh has studied abroad in Italy, attended Hampton University, and has experience as an architectural intern at several firms.

  • Fallon Johnson

    Fallon Johnson is a Designer with more than five years of experience. She began her education at the University of the District of Columbia before furthering her education at the Catholic University of America where she obtained a M.Arch with a concentration in Real Estate Development and M.S. in Facilities Management. Her interest in design and public facilities has fueled her career path into government work, allowing her to explore the intersection of security and design within their facilities.

  • Sharlita Olaleye

    Sharlita is a designer with years of experience in the greater New York City area. She obtained her M. Arch from Hampton University and post-graduate study in Italy, SLC, and D.C. Her mission is to impact people, places, and the built environment. Sharlita uses her knowledge of organization, her more than 10 years in education, and her ease with working with people of all types as sharpened tools in the service of transforming public places.

  • Tasheria Shorts

    Tasheria is an advocate for sustainability and green architecture within the profession. These interests led to her pursue her LEED AP BD+C. She hopes to integrate green practices into her day-to-day design practices.

  • Gloria Spellen

    Gloria’s architectural background experience focuses on Higher Education, Science and Technology (S&T), Healthcare and Federal projects. As a planner, her focus is on Federal work, which is very diverse in project type—from U.S. Courthouses to installation development plans.

  • Zandria Tolliver

    Zandria is currently working as an architect-in-training at Tobin & Associates, a design firm centered around community-oriented architecture, primarily focused on hospitality and education. Throughout college to the present, Zandria continues to mentor young women and girls who show an interest in architecture or design.

“Zandria has helped me so much and encouraged me to keep going. Even though we are studying for different exams, we still support one another.”

GLORIA SPELLEN