CAPLA Alumnus Edward Marley Honored for National and International Leadership
Alumnus Edward Marley, FAIA, B.Arch ’82, was honored during the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2026 Conference in San Diego for his dedication to the architecture profession.
The College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) recognized Marley with the Distinguished Service Award during the Arizona Alumni and Professional Reception. The event was co-hosted with The Design School at Arizona State University and sponsored by AIA Arizona.
Marley is completing his term as president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) for 2025–2026. He will remain on the NCARB Board of Directors as past president for the next year and continue to co-lead and teach at the NCARB Leadership Institute, which he helped establish in 2024.
In addition to his work with NCARB, Marley is a principal at the Tucson-based firm Swaim Associates, where he has dedicated more than four decades to service and leadership.
Throughout his career, Marley has been an advocate for expanding access to architectural licensure, leadership development and education.
CAPLA Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand presented Marley with the college’s Distinguished Service Award, a recognition that came as a surprise to him.
“Throughout his career, Ed has been a tireless advocate for expanding access to architectural licensure, leadership and education, helping create a profession that is more inclusive and accessible to future generations,” said Nancy Pollock-Ellwand, dean of CAPLA. “Earlier this spring, he visited with our architecture students to talk about licensure, which we greatly appreciated.”
“I am honored to be recognized by CAPLA for my work with the school over the years, but that’s not what motivates me,” Marley said. “Being able to see students thrive and succeed in their studies and careers brings me the greatest satisfaction.”
The award is given to alumni whose accomplishments have advanced their profession and whose service has strengthened the CAPLA community.
Later in the conference, Marley was also honored with the Federación de Colegios de Arquitectos de la República Mexicana (FCARM) Presidential Medal for his leadership in maintaining and strengthening NCARB’s relationship with FCARM, Mexico’s architectural regulatory body.
Marley helped renegotiate and enhance the North American Tri-National Agreement, ensuring that U.S. and Canadian architects who obtain reciprocal licensure in Mexico receive full licensure status. The agreement supports professional mobility while maintaining consistent standards of competency and public protection.
“The agreement is important because it acknowledges that many practitioners engage in cross-border projects, residing in one country while working for clients in another,” he said. “Facilitating licensure in a manner that promotes legal practice and assures public protection are two of the key elements of this agreement.”
Like receiving CAPLA’s Distinguished Service Award, Marley was surprised to receive the FCARM Presidential Medal.
“The work NCARB does as an organization to further opportunities for American architects on the international stage is extremely important,” he said. “What made receiving the medal even more special was receiving it alongside NCARB’s manager of programs and certification, who has been instrumental in advancing the Tri-National Agreement process.”
