Marcela Oliva
Professor of Architecture and
Environmental Design
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
For over a decade, she led as the Knowledge Architect for the $9 billion Building Program at the Los Angeles Community College District, pioneering the development and rollout of the nation’s largest Digital Twin/Virtualization BIM/GIS System, aligned with National Intelligence Standards. As a Professor of Architecture and Environmental Design at LATTC, she founded UCLA Extension Courses: Transforming Community and Design for Social Justice, showcasing expertise in Omniverse/Metaverse/Digital twins and their societal impact. Her pivotal role at NASA’s Knowledge Management and as principal investigator for the Cyber-Physical Systems NSF Grant underscore her leadership in the field.
Honored with the California Governor’s Award in Geospatial Technologies, she is a sought-after speaker addressing education, technology, and social justice forums worldwide. Awards such as the Alpha Rho Chi Medal from USC and the 2012 Educator of the Year highlight her innovative integration of biomimicry with digital twins. With a background in Architecture and Building Science from USC and Columbia University, respectively, and ongoing initiatives like the Mayor’s Workforce Initiative for the Green New Deal, she remains a trailblazer in AEC education and practice. Recognized with the 2022 AIA LA Presidential Award for Educator of the Year, her impact continues to resonate across academia and industry. She serves as Board Member and Board of Directors for USGBC LA, Pando Populus and Architecture and Advocacy.