Towner native Michelle Mongeon Allen, CEO of JLG Architects, was inducted on Feb. 18 by the American Institute of Architects into its prestigious College of Fellows.

As the organization’s highest individual honor, Fellowship is awarded to fewer than 3% of the architecture profession; this year, the AIA elevated only 88 member-architects from across the country who have made significant contributions to the architecture profession.

“This is a remarkable achievement. Michelle’s fundamental character is rooted in hard work, and she reframes every challenge into a unique opportunity for JLG to extend positive impact,” said Dave Dimond, JLG’s director of Design. “Growing up in Towner, ND, her compassion for smaller communities is evident in every endeavor. She has a rare authenticity that connects her drive for design excellence with a practice model that elevates the quality of life for rural communities across the upper Midwest.”

Allen graduated from North Dakota State University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. She joined JLG Architects in 2000, relocating from Grand Forks to Minneapolis in 2002 to open the firm’s first branch office. She became a firm partner in 2004 and was later promoted to chief operating officer in 2007, then chief executive officer in 2017. Allen is the fifth architect from JLG to be elected to the AIA’s College of Fellows.

“Exposure to architecture as a career was not present in my small-town upbringing, but that small-town ethic has been ever-present in my career. It drives my passion to expose rural communities to design excellence, elevating everyday spaces that build vibrant, sustainable and thriving communities. I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent my home state, the Midwest and JLG on a national stage. I think this is a strong testament to the unlimited opportunity that’s awaiting emerging architects who dare to dream big in the Midwest,” Allen said.

Allen is a multi-award-winning architect and was recently recognized as one of Finance & Commerce’s Top Women in Construction. She has been an AIA member since 1993 and is a past president of the Minnesota chapter, receiving the AIA Minnesota Presidential Citation for her former service as convention chair and her role on the executive vice president search committee. Allen has been actively involved in NDSU’s Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Advisory Board since 2010, serving as past board chair.