Architect Michael Marshall, FAIA, NOMA, NCARB Establishes Scholarship Fund at Yale University School of Architecture

WASHINGTON, DC — Washington, DC-based architect Michael Marshall has established the Michael Marshall Scholarship Fund at the Yale School of Architecture.
Marshall, who is also a member of the Dean’s Council at the School, is active with the alumni community, supporting efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion and to build pipelines from undergraduate institutions for African American students to attend Yale. Marshall himself benefited from scholarships when he attended and graduated from the School with his Master of Architecture degree in 1984.

“The establishment of this first Fund in the name of a black architect is especially meaningful as we actively work to grow diversity here at the Yale School of Architecture,” said Dean Deborah Berke, FAIA, LEED AP. “Michael’s generosity and vision are inspiring.”

Marshall’s career spans 35 years of dedication to design as a catalyst for positive change in communities, growing his practice over time to include significant projects that ensure that underserved and underrepresented populations benefit from the built environment. A hallmark of his practice has also been projects that celebrate African American history and culture. Currently, he is on the design team for a new park dedicated to Frederick Douglass, the father of the American civil rights movement. His work has included projects across civic, cultural, corporate and institutional markets – from the historic Howard Theatre to the University of the District of Columbia Student Center to DC’s Entertainment & Sports Arena and Audi Field to public and charter schools across the nation’s capital and beyond.

In 2018, Marshall’s work was requested and accepted into the archives of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. He has personally mentored more than 150 young architects.

“It is an honor to establish this annual fund at my alma mater,” said Marshall. “Attending Yale, where I learned from icons like Frank Gehry, was truly the highlight of my academic experience. It has always been my goal to give back, and I want to be part of the solution, passing the torch to the next generation of architects whose voices will be reflected in their work, on behalf of the communities they serve and represent.”

The scholarship will be awarded for the first time in the calendar year 2021-2022.
To learn more about this scholarship opportunity contact Jill Westgard, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Yale School of Architecture at jill.westgard@yale.edu

About Michael Marshall Design
Michael Marshall Design (MMD) is a DC-based architecture and design firm, serving clients in the public and private sectors. A seasoned collective of architects, brand strategists and creative thinkers, we work across design disciplines, beyond the expected, to inspire greater engagement and impact everywhere we come together.

We are passionate about using architecture and branding to create more relevant public spaces and more dynamic experiences. An architecture firm since 1989, we have always understood the power of the built environment, and now we bring our broad-based design thinking to create greater opportunities and drive positive change in our communities. www.michaelmarshalldesign.com.

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