The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY) and the Center for Architecture today announced Benjamin Prosky as its new executive director. Prosky, who is currently the assistant dean for communications at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, will step into the role early next year.

Prosky replaces former executive director Rick Bell, who abruptly resigned from the post in March.

“I look forward to engaging with the professional architects who are the backbone of the constituency, and also cultivating the broader public which, in the context of New York, recognizes the profound impact that design and the built environment have on the vitality of the city and all aspects of our lives," said Prosky.

At Harvard GSD, where he has worked since 2011, Prosky managed a wide array of projects and events including the school’s involvement in the Venice Biennale and Harvard Design Magazine. He also relaunched the school’s Wheelwright Prize, an annual research-based travel grant. Prior to his tenure at Harvard, Prosky oversaw special events and external affairs for six years at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP). He is also a co-founder of Architizer.

Carol Loewenson, Partner at Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and incoming AIANY president, said that the organization “is poised for great change: More outreach, greater membership value, deeper connections to the academy and a stronger role in actively impacting the design of our city.  Ben is the right person to imagine the AIANY of the future.”