As Rodney Morgan and Sanethia Sampson exited the stage in McEwan Hall during the General Session of the 2024 Design Leadership Summit, the DLN’s Executive Director and CEO Michael Diaz-Griffith proclaimed: “That’s the future of our industry.” Indeed, the success of today’s design students is not only integral to the continuation of a healthy design and architecture industry; it’s also a crucial part of the DLN ecosystem, exemplified in the Design Leadership Foundation and its impressive scholars.
2024 marked the third year that alumni of the DLF’s Professional Horizons Summer Work Experience took the stage during the Summit to reflect on their participation in the organization’s founding program, which places students of design and architecture at Mississippi State University in internships with DLN Member firms. And, once again, these sessions were about much more than simply relaying experience: They were reflections on the importance of education and reminders of the impact of design.
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Onstage during our General Session, Rodney—who completed his internship with Yellow House Architects—spoke about the role of architecture in shaping his worldview, recalling how his early fascination with buildings developed into a realization of the role of architecture in community. Sanethia—an intern with Foley & Cox who began her studies in biochemistry before pivoting to architecture—gave an impassioned speech on the power of holistic design to promote healing, a lesson underscored by her mother’s own battle with cancer.
Rodney and Sanethia’s participation in the Summit represents the vision of the DLF as a core part of our community; the beginning of a life cycle within the DLN, with the goal of alumni matriculating to become Associate Members, Members, and, eventually, even Fellows as they continue their careers in design.
The existence of the Professional Horizons program is made possible thanks to the generosity of the DLN community, whose giving is also enabling expanded programming: In addition to growing its pilot program with Mississippi State University, over the last year the DLF has added two programs in the US in partnership with Santa Monica College in Los Angeles and One Million Degrees in Chicago, respectively. A larger Board and ever-growing roster of volunteers means the organization is able to impact more and more students—and is committed to further growth. After all, that’s how we ensure a healthy future for the industry we love.
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Meet the DLF Scholars at the 2024 Summit
Sanethia Sampson
A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Sanethia is a senior at Mississippi State University, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design with a minor in Lighting Design and Fine Arts. “My passion for interior design stems from my own personal desire to create spaces that evoke and embrace diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability for everyone,” she says. Sanethia is interested in projects that bridge residential, commercial, and hospitality design, blurring boundaries to create more inventive spaces. This summer, she interned with Foley & Cox, gaining hands-on experience in the design world under the leadership of DLN Members Michael Cox and Zuni Madera.
Rodney Morgan
A Milwaukee native, Rodney is a senior at Mississippi State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture with a minor in Historic Preservation. He’s long had an interest in the built-environment, even drawing blueprints of dream houses as a child. “I am currently interested in mixed-used and commercial buildings because of my vision to make things more accessible,” he explains. This summer saw him complete an internship with Yellow House Architects, helmed by DLN Member Elizabeth Graziolo. Outside the office, Rodney found constant inspiration in the New York City skyline.