Student, Faculty & Alumni Profiles

Yamilkal Hernandez Sanchez is a first-year MSUP student speaking on his Peace Corps experience.

Lei is a new faculty member in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, who brings with her a fascinating research background with clear real-world implications.

For Hunter Bentley, M.Arch ‘28, a four-day field trip to Boston in February 2026 turned into the starting point for a summer internship that would reshape how he thinks about architecture.

Associate Professor of Urban Planning Kristina Currans is taking on a new role as Master of Science in Urban Planning Program Chair. She has a vision for the program centered around the voices of students and consistency.

Lyndsey Shafiei, a first-year Master of Architecture student, shares why she joined the Peace Corps and what she hopes to accomplish after earning her M.Arch degree from CAPLA.

Professor of Practice in Architecture Michael Kothke is the new program chair for the Master of Architecture program. He has a clear vision for the future of the degree, centering about community, understanding and being a powerful force for good.

Fifth-year B.Arch student Rachel Hink gained hands-on experience in architecture and community engagement through her summer internship with BWS Architects. From contributing to site plans and project meetings to participating in CanStruction, a community outreach event benefiting the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, the experience gave Hink valuable insight into how architecture can serve and strengthen communities.

CAPLA alumna Kaya Orona, B.Arch ’23, has been named one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s 2026 40 Under 40 honorees, recognizing her accomplishments in the construction industry. Now a preconstruction manager at The PENTA Building Group, Orona has built on her architectural education to lead projects at the intersection of design, construction and development.

Nataliya Apanovich, a CAPLA lecturer, won the Gerald J. Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence. She’s known for innovative, student-centered, community-focused sustainability education.

Anselmo Vinhas, CAPLA’s Class of 2026, reflects on growth, favorite projects (3D-printed housing for Angola), cherished memories, and his next steps: U.S. experience and launching a business in Angola.

Nathan Becenti ‘25 M.Arch founded CAPLA’s ISAPD chapter, mentored Indigenous students, and now works at Line and Space, empowering future architects.

Dillon Tisdale’s externship with The M Group in D.C. immersed him in real-world architecture workflows, sustainability, and collaboration, shaping his career goals in net-zero design and project management.