Akima’s mentor describes her as “incredibly poised, generous, intelligent, talented, determined, creative, and hardworking” and says she is “already a powerful force and voice in architecture.”

Akima Brackeen is dedicated to creating architecture that will improve lives and promote justice within the built environment. A master’s student at U-M’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Akima plans to earn her licensure and become an advocate for other women and people of color. She says, “My upbringing was rooted in a pedagogy that stressed the importance of decent housing, adequate education, and the need for sustainable employment. This has influenced my decision to pursue architecture, graduate studies, and work with firms and organizations that strive to positively impact the community.”

In addition to her studies, Akima has taken on many co- and extracurricular activities that support her values. She works part-time as an architectural designer at David Baker Architects and is the Program Coordinator for the Equity in Architecture Education Consortium (EAEC) at Taubman College. She also works as a Rackham Student Ally, and has co-created and co-facilitated Under Consideration, a discussion series that explores issues of justice, equity, access and new approaches to design thinking at Taubman College. She has additionally worked as an Instructional Aide at U-M’s ArcPrep program, which offers college-level architecture courses to students in Detroit Public Schools, and as a lead graduate research assistant for a project that analyzes the public perception and reception of architecture. This past year, she was awarded the 2021 Longo International Fellowship, a competitive program that sends two architecture graduate students to work at the MASS Design Group office in Kigali, Rwanda, and the 2021 Quiet Influence Award from Student Life’s Michigan Difference Student Leadership Awards.

Akima’s mentor describes her as “incredibly poised, generous, intelligent, talented, determined, creative, and hardworking” and says she is “already a powerful force and voice in architecture.”

CEW+ applauds Akima’s dedication and names her a Grace A. and James D. Bruce Fund Scholar.