Rising Stars: UB Architecture Students Awarded FORA Fellowship and Scholarship
BY KELLY SHELDON
Published May 22, 2025
Ada Rodriguez (MArch '26) will be gaining valuable hands-on architectural experience this year as the 2025-2026 FORA Fellow.
In 2022, created a new scholarship opportunity, aptly named “the FORAship.” FORA is a 100% women-owned and led architecture firm committed to tackling the housing challenges of our time. This year, they have honored two students at the UB School of Architecture and Planning with support through this scholarship program – Ada Rodriguez (MArch ‘26) is this year’s FORA Fellow, and Md Ahsan Ullah (MArch ‘26) received the FORA Scholarship Award.
The firm’s mission is to create vibrant, resilient, and equitable housing at all scales, and the FORAship was created in a similar spirit, creating opportunities for a diverse population of students. Their website states, “We understand that more diversity means better design and that improving representation in architecture won’t happen through passive means.” Knowing that scholarships and grants are abundant for first-year students but wane over time, this opportunity is aimed at upper-level and graduate students who exhibit exemplary attributes, such as diverse perspectives and backgrounds, a respectful and inclusive attitude towards all, a commitment to meaningful work that supports strong communities, and a highly organized and self-driven mindset, among others.
Rodriguez is a dedicated young architecture student with a passion for innovative design solutions. She takes pride in her pursuit of excellence, unwavering commitment to clear and consistent communication, and projects including individual homes, residential complexes, and public buildings. Additionally, her role as an urbanist has provided her with valuable experience in designing public spaces, crafting large-scale master plans, and formulating city development strategies.
“Originally from Cuba, Ada wowed us with her tenacity, love for people, and thoughtful considerations for how we live,” FORA shared. “We’re thrilled to award her this opportunity and can’t wait to see the incredible contributions she’ll make during her FORAship starting in June.”
This fellowship is designed to provide considerable hands-on experience and insight into business and project processes. As the FORA Fellow, Rodriguez will have the opportunity to work with the firm for one year, engaging directly with executive-level staff, gaining key business management experience, and assisting with a variety of tasks across the organization—including marketing, business development, finance, research, policy, operations, and more. She’ll also be included on a project team, allowing her to experience all phases of an architectural design project from start to finish.
“What drew me to FORA was more than just their design work,” Rodriguez explained. “It was their clear commitment to sustainability, human experience, equity, and community engagement…I believe architecture reaches its fullest potential when it truly reflects the people it’s designed for, and I’m eager to contribute to creating spaces that are not only livable but also rooted in equity and care. Being part of a team that shares my passion for empathy, community-driven design, and social impact is incredibly inspiring. I’m excited to learn, grow, and bring my experiences, voice, and heart to create spaces that empower communities and promote inclusion. This opportunity marks an important step in my professional journey, allowing me to join a team that deeply values sustainability, human experience, and community engagement.”
Md Ahsan Ullah (MArch ‘26) possesses a deep commitment to the field, driven by a strong passion for innovative and sustainable design solutions.
This year is also the first time FORA has chosen to honor additional outstanding applicants by providing them with scholarship funds. This new initiative is part of their ongoing commitment to amplifying diverse voices in architecture. Three FORA Scholars were selected this year from schools across the nation, including UB’s Md Ahsan Ullah.
Ullah recently earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture and possesses a deep commitment to the field, driven by a strong passion for innovative and sustainable design solutions. His current pursuit of a MArch degree at UB is driven by a desire to expand his knowledge, refine his skills, and delve deeper into the intricacies of sustainable design, a subject that lies at the core of his professional and ethical values. In his future work, he aims to make a substantial impact on the built environment and contribute to a sustainable and harmonious future.
“As a FORA scholar, I am deeply honored to be part of a community dedicated to innovation, design, and sustainability,” Ullah expressed. “This opportunity motivates me to further develop my skills and contribute meaningfully to marginalized communities by using architecture as a tool for positive social impact.”
UB has a proud track record of FORAship success, with alumna Rosanna Valencia (B.S. Arch ’21) being the inaugural recipient in 2022. Fellow alumna Nicole Little (MArch/MUP ’20, BS Arch ’17), who now works at FORA as a Designer/Associate/Visual Storytelling Specialist, reflected on what she believes sets the school apart.
“UB does an outstanding job of teaching students to lead with their values and to see their lived experiences as assets, not obstacles," she shared. "What I took from my time there is that growing up low-income and in poor-quality housing gave me a perspective that’s not only valid—it’s necessary for driving real change.
That mindset is why I think UB students are such a natural fit at FORA—a firm deeply committed to addressing the housing crisis through a values-driven, community-centered approach…The FORAship is an extension of that mission—amplifying voices and perspectives that are often overlooked but deeply needed in this field. I’m proud of Ada Rodriguez and Md Ahsan Ullah, looking forward to supporting and learning from Ada in her time as a Fellow with our firm, and excited to see the impact they’ll both continue to make."