Los Angeles—Jon Alan Baker, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, of San Diego, California, was elected as second vice president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) at the organization’s 2021 Annual Business Meeting. Baker has previously served on the NCARB Board of Directors as treasurer, secretary, and Region 6 director.

Baker was appointed to the California Architects Board from 2005-2018, and served four terms as the board’s president. In 2007 and 2016, he was elected by his peers as the chair of NCARB’s Region 6—of which the California Board is a member. He first joined the NCARB Board of Directors as the Region 6 director from 2010-2012, and was elected to the national Board again in 2018.

For nearly 15 years, Baker has offered his time and expertise to NCARB’s volunteer initiatives, including several related to the development of the national architecture licensing exam. He has also served on the Audit, Education, Experience, Experience Advisory, Policy Advisory, and Regional Leadership committees, several of which he chaired. Baker has represented NCARB on a number of National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) visiting teams, which evaluate college architecture programs.

A partner at BakerNowicki Design Studio, a Southern California firm specializing in the design and planning of educational facilities, Baker has extensive experience in large scale public and private projects. He is the former president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Diego chapter, previously serving eight years as a board member, and two years on the AIA California Council board. In 2009, Baker was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in recognition of his service to the profession.

Baker is a dedicated volunteer both within and outside of the architecture profession, serving as a member of San Diego’s Downtown Community Planning Council and previously volunteering for the Jr. Achievement Board of Directors, the Building Industry Association, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, and more. He has served on the NewSchool of Architecture & Design’s Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) Advisory Committee since 2015.

Baker attended California Polytechnic State University. He has been NCARB certified for 30 years and licensed in 10 states, including California.

About NCARB

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate. Connect with NCARB on  Twitter,  Facebook, and  YouTube.