Venesa Alicea-Chuqui

Venesa Alicea-Chuqui is an Assistant Professor at the School of Public Architecture within Michael Graves College, Kean University. A licensed architect in New Jersey and New York, she is the Founding Principal of NYVARCH Architecture, a practice dedicated to advancing equity and community engagement through sustainable and socially conscious design. With over 15 years of experience in multi-family affordable housing and civic projects, her work bridges design justice, energy equity, and participatory processes.

• Master of Science in Urban Policy and Leadership (MSUPL), Hunter College (2021)
• Bachelor of Architecture, City College of New York (CCNY), Spitzer School of Architecture (2005)

Her research focuses on energy equity, design justice, and community-driven urban development. Venesa has taught design studios and professional practice courses at CCNY and Kean University, emphasizing activism, advocacy, and participatory design methodologies.

Venesa has been recognized through fellowships and leadership roles, including her 2019 Fellowship with the Association for Community Design and her tenure as Equity in Action Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow. She actively contributes to organizations like Dark Matter U, Design as Protest, and AIA Newark and Suburban, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.

Previously, she worked as an Associate at Dattner Architects for over 11 years, specializing in sustainable affordable housing in New York City. She also leads initiatives for the AIANY Puerto Rico Resiliency Task Force and co-chaired the AIANY Diversity & Inclusion and Emerging New York Architects committees.