Meet the Committee

We believe in the power of connection, mentorship, and collective action.

  • Marialy Pérez Rodríguez, AIT, Assoc. AIA, LEED® Green Associate
    Senior Project Manager at V Architecture, PSC. | Communications Director, Women in Architecture PR

    Marialy Pérez Rodríguez is a Senior Project Manager with over 18 years of diverse experience in architectural practice, known for her ability to blend creativity, collaboration, and technical precision to lead innovative, client-centered projects. As a key member of the Lead Design team at V Architecture, she oversees the full design process—from research and conceptual development to the successful execution of integrated architectural, interior, and graphic design solutions.

    A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Marialy holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design and Communications. Her academic foundation, combined with her LEED® Green Associate accreditation, informs her commitment to sustainability, excellence, and design that inspires. She excels at managing complex, multidisciplinary projects and is passionate about fostering strong client relationships and delivering meaningful, impactful spaces.

    As the Communications Director of the Women in Architecture Puerto Rico Committee, Marialy champions visibility, equity, and empowerment for women in the profession. Her leadership in both practice and advocacy reflects her dedication to shaping a more inclusive and vibrant architectural community.


  • Sofía Capllonch Pérez is an architect in training, licensure candidate, artist and composer, with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design and a Master’s in Architecture from the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. Her interests include architectural theory and research, graphic design, and the intersections between the arts and architecture. 

    She has also worked as a mentor in architecture workshops for children and as a graduate teaching assistant at the School of Architecture at UPR, and currently works both at an architecture firm and as a guitarist for her punk band, Tapaboka.

    Sofía is an architecture licensure candidate, artist, and composer with degrees in Environmental Design and Architecture from UPR. She explores the intersections of architecture, art, and theory, and is also a mentor, educator, and guitarist in the punk band Tapaboka. Sofía joins the WIA Committee as our Junior Mentorship Director.

  • Valery Vega Varela is an AIT with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She defines herself as a dynamic and innovative professional with a deep passion for nature, neuroarchitecture, art, tropical architecture, and heritage conservation.

    She is driven by the connection between humans and their environment, believing that nature is the primary architecture of our lives. Inspired by this truth, she strives to design spaces that not only meet functional needs but also promote human well-being.

    Her professional journey includes collaborations with renowned designers and architects, bringing a vision that integrates environmental, cultural, and human elements into every project. She has also served as a mentor in the summer workshops at the University of Puerto Rico, guiding new generations of future architects.

    Currently, she is part of the team at Coleman-Davis Pagán Arquitectos. She firmly believes in architecture that harmonizes with its surroundings, celebrates our roots, and looks to the future with sensitivity and responsibility.

    She is one of the Administrative Directors of the WIA Committee. 

    Valery is an AIT with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Architecture from UPR Río Piedras, and one of the Administrative Directors of the WIA Committee. Passionate about nature, neuroarchitecture, and heritage conservation, she currently forms part of the team at Coleman-Davis Pagán Arquitectos.
    She has also worked as a mentor in architecture workshops for children and as a graduate teaching assistant at the School of Architecture at UPR, and currently works both at an architecture firm and as a guitarist for her punk band, Tapaboka.

    Sofía is an architecture licensure candidate, artist, and composer with degrees in Environmental Design and Architecture from UPR. She explores the intersections of architecture, art, and theory, and is also a mentor, educator, and guitarist in the punk band Tapaboka. Sofía joins the WIA Committee as our Junior Mentorship Director.


  • Project Manager, M2A Group | Professor at UPR Carolina

    Neishaly is currently an architect in training, designer, and project coordinator at M2A Group.

    She has experience in both public and private projects, including commercial and urban planning. She has worked as a BIM Coordinator for Álvarez Díaz & Villalón, CMA, and Sustech.

    She has also served as a professor at the University of Puerto Rico – Carolina Campus and the Liceo de Arte y Tecnología, teaching Revit and BIM Coordination.


    Meet Neishaly Rivera, AIT, AIA Assoc.
    Finance Director of WIA | Project Manager at M2A Group | UPR Carolina Professor
    Architect in training with a passion for BIM, design, and empowering future professionals.


    Neishaly is Project Manager at M2A Group and Professor at UPR Carolina. 

    She is the Finance Director of AIA Puerto Rico’s Women in Architecture Committee.


  • Elisa Marie Umpierre López 

    President, Lead Licensed Architect, AIA, LEED AP+BD&C

    Elisa Marie Umpierre López is a licensed architect, Environmental Design Expert, and founder of EMU ARCH Green Architecture Studio LLC. She proudly serves as one of the Senior Mentorship Directors of the WIA Committee, bringing her passion for sustainable design and leadership to empower the next generation.


  • Kiara De León Rivera is an Architect in Training who graduated from the School of

    Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, where she earned

    both a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and a Master's degree in

    Architecture. She has a strong interest in sustainability, bioclimatic design, and the

    integration of emerging technologies in architecture.

    Before assuming her current role, she worked as a research assistant at the FabLab

    UPR, where she contributed to projects that explored the convergence of digital

    fabrication, parametric design, and biomaterials, with a focus on the innovation of

    materials and finishes. Additionally, she provided guidance on digital prototyping,

    including laser cutting and 3D printing operations.

    Currently, she is a Project Architect at Manuel Bermúdez Arquitecto csp, where she

    participates in the development of construction documents and the construction

    administration phase of ongoing projects.

  • Adriana Michelle Torres Martínez is a 24-year-old Architect in Training with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. She began her journey at the firm AD&V as an intern in the Maker Lab, where she worked with 3D printing during her third year of undergraduate studies. Today, she is part of the firm’s architecture team as Design Staff and has gained approximately three years of professional experience.

    Adriana is currently in the process of obtaining her architectural license and serves as the Administrative Coordinator of the Women in Architecture (WIA) Committee under AIA Puerto Rico. Passionate about representation and equity, she is inspired to be part of a community that empowers, uplifts, and promotes leadership and growth for women in the field of architecture

  • Monique Lugo López, AIA, an architect with 29 years of experience, is a licensed professional in Puerto Rico and Florida. As Architecture Department Head and Business Development Executive and an Associate at Benítez Ramos & Associates, she spearheads the architectural department, earning industry recognition and fostering a collaborative environment for the next generation of architects. Monique's dedication to the profession is evident in her past role as AIA Puerto Rico Chapter President in 2022, where her visionary leadership elevated the Women in Architecture initiative and was instrumental in launching the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program. With her new role as Co-Chair of the AIA Puerto Rico Women in Architecture Committee, Monique continues to champion emerging talent and celebrate the contributions of women in architecture. She holds a LEED Green Associate certification and is committed to social transformation through her board service at Caras con Causa.


    Monique Lugo López, AIA, arquitecta con 29 años de experiencia, es una profesional licenciada en Puerto Rico y Florida. Como Directora del Departamento de Arquitectura y Ejecutiva de Desarrollo de Negocios y Asociada en Benítez Ramos & Associates,  lidera el departamento de arquitectura, obteniendo reconocimiento en la industria y fomentando un ambiente colaborativo para la próxima generación de arquitectos.

    La dedicación de Monique a la profesión es evidente en su rol anterior como Presidenta del Capítulo de AIA Puerto Rico en 2022, donde su liderazgo visionario elevó la iniciativa de Mujeres en la Arquitectura y fue fundamental en el lanzamiento del Programa de Desarrollo de Liderazgo Christopher Kelley. Con su nuevo rol como CoChair del Comité de Mujeres en la Arquitectura de AIA Puerto Rico, Monique continúa apoyando el talento emergente y celebrando las contribuciones de las mujeres en la arquitectura.

    Además, posee la certificación LEED Green Associate y está comprometida con la transformación social a través de su servicio en la junta directiva de Caras con Causa.


  • Mariela Bravo Pascual earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in 2011. She is currently Partner at Manuel Bermúdez Arquitecto csp (MBARQ), an Architecture and Urbanism Firm based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since 2008, Mariela has occupied leadership positions regarding an architect’s professional development from their initial years as students and later on as emerging professionals. She has been Vice-President and President of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico’s Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and also served as Delegate of the Architects and Landscape Architects in Training Commission of the Colegio de Arquitectos y Arquitectos Paisajistas de Puerto Rico (CAAPPR). During her time as Delegate for CAAPPR, she developed an online platform for Emerging Professionals to study for the ARE Exams. She strongly believes in the importance of Architects being involved in the Project’s Construction Phase and has been in charge of MBARQ’s Construction Observation Department since 2014. Since 2017, after Hurricanes Irma and María, her main work focus shifted to developing Disaster Recovery Projects with MBARQ in Puerto Rico.



  • Veronica Castro

    Associate y Senior Architect en Marvel

    I'm a Registered Architect with 15+ years of experience in the design & construction of hospitality, multi-family, transportation & commercial projects. I’ve contributed to projects in California, New York and Puerto Rico across a variety of scales, budgets, and teams. 

    My passion is creating well-executed projects, from concept through design & construction. I work collaboratively with the client, the team of consultants, and the contractors to deliver a building that the client and the community is proud of. 

    As a former Scholar of the AIA-PR CKLDP Program, I value mentoring emerging professionals in both the soft and hard skills necessary to contribute and succeed in their architectural careers.

    Verónica Castro, Associate and Senior Architect at Marvel, brings over 15 years of experience in hospitality, multi-family, transportation, and commercial projects across California, New York, and Puerto Rico. A former AIA-PR CKLDP Scholar, she is passionate about mentoring the next generation of architects. She now joins the WIA Committee as a Senior Mentorship Director


  • Zairiangely del Carmen García Planas is an architect in training, born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. During her university career, she contributed to several group projects, among which Casa Amparo stands out—an architectural response to the aftermath of Hurricane María in the community of Piñones in Loíza, Puerto Rico. This project received an Honorable Mention in the Student Work category at the 2018 AIA Awards.

    Her thesis, From Vestiges to Memories: Resignification of the Road Worker Shelter System, was awarded the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award in the Student Category for Theory and Research, as well as awards for Best Project in the Urbanism category and Best Final Project in the competition organized by the Puerto Rico College of Architects and Landscape Architects (CAAPR).

    She has worked at various architecture firms, collaborating in the design and development processes of projects of diverse scales and programs. She currently works as an architect in training at Lastra Power Arquitectos, with the goal of becoming and practicing as a licensed architect.

    She is the Research and Data Collection Director of the WIA Committee.