Applications will open August 2026 with an October 2026 deadline. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.
Supporting Women in Architecture
In honor of Pat Sanchez, retired Principal and Business Manager at Opsis Architecture, AFO has partnered with Opsis Architecture to award the Pat Sanchez Women’s Fellowship, beginning in 2022.
Pat retired after 21 years as the business manager at Opsis, helping to shape the direction and values of the firm. She has long been a strong advocate for women in the profession, especially tied to common barriers that women experience. Pat worked tirelessly to find creative solutions to support staff, including establishing Opsis’ paid family leave policy, flex schedules, and creating opportunities for professional development.
About the Fellowship
The Pat Sanchez Women’s Fellowship is available to women who are mid-career and seeking to grow professionally, particularly in areas related to firm leadership and management. The fellowship offers up to $3,000, which can be used to attend professional conferences, college-level coursework, or specialized seminars that support advancement in key areas of architectural practice. These may include firm management, leadership, business development, design, and other facets of the profession.
AFO and Opsis encourage Oregon women currently practicing in the field of architecture to apply. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a clear interest in expanding their leadership role within the profession or advancing skills related to firm operations and management. Applicants should submit a professional resume and a written proposal of one page in length outlining their intended use of the fellowship funds as well as a clear budget for the proposal, and how the experience will support their long-term professional goals.
2026 Fellow, Heather McGinn-Girón
In partnership with Opsis Architecture, we are excited to announce our 2026 Pat Sanchez Women’s Fellow, Heather McGinn-Girón, AIA, NOMA.
Heather is an architect and Founder of Studio Even Odd Architecture and Design. She is using fellowship funds to support her participation in the Portland Metro Chamber’s 2026 Best Practices Trip to Vancouver, B.C., where she will travel alongside Portland’s civic and business leaders to study the city’s integrated approach to housing affordability, including policy coordination and innovative construction methods that deliver equitable housing at scale. This experience will advance the professional growth of her emerging architecture practice by deepening policy fluency, strengthening relationships, and supporting the adaptation of her own housing design strategies for small urban sites in Portland and beyond.
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility
All Women who meet the following criteria are welcome to apply:
- Currently practicing within the architecture profession
- Minimum professional experience of 5 years in the architecture profession
- Licensure is not required
- Oregon Resident
Application Requirements
Please submit the following to support@opsisarch.com; subject line include “Pat Sanchez Fellowship”
- One page, 500 word maximum proposal: Clearly outline the candidates professional background and interest in the identified area of study. Include an itemized breakdown of the candidate’s proposed use of fellowship funds – identifying specific classes, workshops, seminars or conferences this will be applied to. The proposed use of funds could be a combination of classes/events and can include related travel expenses. The awarded funds should be utilized between the dates of January and December of the awarding year.
- Professional resume
- Clear budget for proposal
If you are not able to submit your application electronically, please print and mail it to Opsis Architecture, 975 SE Main Street, Portland, OR 97214. We will accept mailed applications postmarked by the deadline.
Fellowship applications are closed. The next cycle will open August 2026 with an October 2026 deadline. Subscribe to our newsletter to get notified when applications open.
Questions?
Contact:
Kim Ruthardt Knowles
Director of Education Programs
kim@af-oregon.org
503-317-7537
