When Maria first stepped onto the University of South Florida’s campus, she had just completed her undergraduate degree at Florida International University. With barely a week between programs, she arrived at USF’s School of Architecture & Community Design (SACD) eager, uncertain, and ready to immerse herself in a new academic home. What she found was more than just a graduate program; it was a community that would shape her career, her relationships, and her identity.
Now a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), a distinction held by only 3% of licensed architects in the U.S., Maria reflects on her time at USF as the foundation of a career built on passion, purpose, and people.
From the start, she was welcomed to the school and university. Professors like David Crane, Robert Campbell, Dan Powers, Trent Green, and Steve Cooke weren’t just names on a syllabus; they were advocates, collaborators, and mentors. For Maria, the faculty’s accessibility fostered a culture of mentorship and mutual respect. “Dan Powers was famous for stopping by the studio at 2:00 a.m. to see who was still working,” she laughs. “He’d sit with you, review your project, and then tell you to go get some rest.”
Beyond the faculty, Maria found a peer group that inspired her work while pushing her to be the best. “If someone was amazing at hand drawing, you’d learn from them. If someone finished their model early, they’d help you glue yours together.” The sense of community wasn’t just social, but also academic. “We were all lifting each other up and it made us stronger. It’s something I still see in the students today.”
(1994-1997: Studio time with David Wright on the left and Doug Pearl on the right.)
One of the defining features of school is its emphasis on hands-on learning. That ethic was reinforced through real-world projects, particularly through the Florida Center for Community Design and Research. “We worked with real communities in Florida, solving real problems,” she explains. “We taught residents about the environment, about mangroves, about sustainability. It was comprehensive, immersive learning.” A turning point for Maria was her thesis. “It was the first time I really got to explore what I was passionate about. The professors championed us completely by creating a net of support.” That work, rooted in cultural connection and community engagement, would set the tone for her entire career.
After graduating in 1997, Maria worked in Florida before moving across the country with her husband, Jason Westrope, also a SACD 1997 graduate. “We moved to California, and I found a firm that aligned with my values,” From there, Maria decided that she was going to get licensed in a year. “I gave myself a year,” she says. “I studied every night, took one test after another, and got my license in a year” which led to her having her pick of jobs. After a stint in the Peace Corps, Maria and her family settled in Chicago where she became a LEED Accredited Professional and earned her planning certification (AICP) reflecting her commitment to sustainability and community-focused design. She is now Principal/Design Director at UrbanWorks.
(1997: Jason and Maria, Master of Architecture Graduation)
In 2024, she was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects—one of the highest honors in the profession. “It was outside my comfort zone,” she admits. “But I wanted to do it for representation. There aren’t many Latina Fellows. I wanted to change that.”
Today, Maria is a mentor, educator, and advocate. She teaches summer studio courses for the University of Illinois and serves as a juror for SACD’s prestigious Garcia Award. “It’s a great way to stay connected and see the work current students are producing which is phenomenal.”
For Maria, architecture is more than a profession—it’s a lifelong pursuit of learning, growth, and impact. “You never stop learning,” she says. “I learn from new graduates, and hopefully they learn from me.”
Her advice for incoming students is simple but powerful: “Find your passion. Follow what drives you. That’s what will keep you going when things get hard. Architecture isn’t just a job—it’s a career, a calling. And if you do it with heart, you can make a real difference.”
Learn more about the School of Architecture & Community Design.