IIDA NY Chapter Inaugurates New President for Upcoming Term
Sarah Levine To Emphasize Chapter Advocacy, Return to In-Person Programming
The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is proud to announce the inauguration of Sarah Levine, IIDA, as Chapter President for the 2022-2023 term. Levine is an associate at ZGF Architects, and has been a member of the chapter since 2007. She succeeds Elsie St. Léger, IIDA, who served as President for the 2021-2022 term. Levine’s presidency takes effect as of July 2022.
As a professional interior design organization, IIDA NY unites professionals throughout New York state, providing networking opportunities, educational events, and charitable initiatives for members. As Chapter President, Levine hopes to prioritize industry advocacy, while simultaneously emphasizing a return to the in-person program the chapter is known for.
“The success of our first few in-person events following the pandemic lockdowns was palpable—the excitement of being together could be felt within the room,” said Levine. “Our first priority is the health and safety of the attendees, but our goal is to continue holding events in-person whenever possible. I also recognize the value in our hybrid events that connect all of our City Centers, and plan to continue exploring options to support and build community within our chapter.”
Levine brings over 15 years of experience in commercial interior design to her role, having worked for TPG Architecture, STUDIOS Architecture, and ZGF Architects. She has previously held leadership positions in the chapter, including Vice President of Advocacy, and is a former board member of IDLNY (Interior Designers for Legislation in New York), an industry coalition that advocates for the rights of interior design professionals within the state.
“I’ve been passionate about advocacy for the interior design profession for many years, and I hope to bring more awareness to the efforts being done to modernize the laws governing the practice of interior design in New York State,” said Levine. “This awareness begins at the grassroots level, and I hope to initiate more conversations to educate and inform both members of the profession and the public about the issues surrounding our practice.”
While utilizing her term to further focus chapter efforts on industry advocacy, she also strives to continue building on the work accomplished by recent presidents, board members and committee chairs to strengthen the chapter moving forward. This includes nurturing the next generation of designers and industry professionals to cultivate their passion for interior design while inspiring them to become successful leaders themselves.
“I’m truly honored to pass the presidential torch to Sarah,” said St. Léger. “Over the years, she has demonstrated a tremendous amount of dedication and commitment to the chapter. Under her leadership, IIDA’s NY chapter can anticipate positive steps toward change for the interior design community as a whole.”
About IIDA NY
The IIDA New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is a professional networking and educational association of more than 800 Members in five specialty Forums. IIDA NY provides its Members with the resources to reach expertise, knowledge and contacts. Networking events allow professionals and industry members to connect on more personal terms that encourage trust, collaboration and innovation. In 2021, IIDA NY formed Equity Council, an independent, open and inclusive body of participants who may or may not be members of IIDA. Their goal is to foster engagement and accountability toward meaningful change in the design industry, advocating for increased equity in the field through four key pillars: inclusion, diversity, education and communication. The Chapter is proud to have been recognized as IIDA Large Chapter of the Year in 2011, 2008, 2001 and 2000. For more information, visit: http://www.iidany.org/.
About Sarah Levine
Sarah Levine received her Masters of Science in Interior Design from Pratt Institute, eventually moving on to pursue a career in commercial interior design. Now an associate at ZGF Architects, Levine has been an advocate for the rights of practitioners in the field over her last 15 years in the industry. She has previously held leadership roles in both IIDA NY and IDLNY, and now serves as President of IIDA’s New York chapter.
