For School of Architecture alumni Alexander Fernández, AIA ’94, G’97 and Yanel de Angel, FAIA G’99, the time they spent studying abroad in Florence—immersed in Italian design culture and architecture—was invaluable and set the foundation for their careers.
Skyline - Florence, Italy Credit: Alexander Fernández
Being raised in Puerto Rico, Fernández’s mother always instilled in him the importance of travel to expand his horizons. While attending the Florence program in the fall of 1991, Fernández had his ‘aha’ moment where a lot of the concepts he had learned in studio and history courses came into focus. He wanted to extend his stay in Florence to continue this unique learning journey but knew that his financial situation would not allow for it. However, through the generous support of the school, Fernández was able to return to Florence in the spring of 1992, and again in 1996 to pursue the one-year master’s program.
Porta il Duomo - Florence, Italy Credit: Alexander Fernández“Both experiences and the financial support I received to attend the Florence program as an undergraduate and graduate student were instrumental in my professional upbringing and development as an architect,” says Fernández. “The biggest take away for me was the opportunity to learn by doing, specifically sketching in situ and learning inside the spaces.”
During her time in Florence, de Angel recalls the field trips she took to many cities throughout Italy, which left an indelible mark on her career by “metaphorically expanded the ‘rolodex’ of potential solutions to a myriad of design problems.”
“We had the opportunity to understand what makes the urban realm successful, how can the city offer a beautiful background for life to unfold, and why the right balance of open space, urban density, and craftmanship in tectonics is so key to an enriching experience,” says de Angel. “Spending time immersed in those cities was invaluable.”
Inspired by their study abroad experiences, Fernández and de Angel recently established the Fernández and de Angel Family Scholarship Fund at Syracuse University. The scholarship will be used to provide financial assistance to one undergraduate student enrolled in the School of Architecture with demonstrated financial need who is participating in a global learning experience, with preference to those participating in the Florence study abroad program.
Ponte Vecchio - Florence, Italy Credit: Alexander Fernández“Yanel and I want to support the next generation of designers who may need an extra push to allow them to fully experience Italian architecture without financial limitations,” says Fernández.
“Supporting the school and giving back is important to us because when we were students, others supported us at a time when we did not have the resources,” says de Angel. “This scholarship opens up possibilities by offering architecture students a financial boost and a chance to explore and create.”
“The fund will provide invaluable support for architecture students studying abroad,” says Daniele Profeta, Florence architecture program director. “It will ease financial burdens and enable them to fully engage themselves in their academic pursuits in Florence, fostering a deeper understanding of architectural practices and perspectives across cultures.”
Alexander Fernández, AIA ’94, G’97
Alexander Fernández, AIA ’94, G’97Fernández is design director and principal at Gensler’s Boston office where his relentless passion for art and design combined with his keen ability to resolve design challenges provides his clients a comprehensive perspective. A diligent problem-solver, Fernández delivers value and inspires his teams through thoughtful, well-crafted design solutions. His global portfolio reflects a mix of project types and scales including master plans, mixed-use developments and retail centers, commercial office buildings and universities. A lifelong learner and educator, Fernández has taught design and drawing at several universities in the U.S. and abroad and has received numerous design awards, including a fellowship at The MacDowell Colony and the Gabriel Prize, a national research fellowship. Fernández earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Syracuse University’s campuses in New York and Florence, Italy. Thereafter he taught design and theory courses at Syracuse University’s Pre Architecture program in Florence. Subsequently Fernández was appointed assistant professor while teaching first, second and fourth-year design, various drawing and analysis courses in the U.S. and Italy.
Yanel de Angel, FAIA G’99
Yanel de Angel, FAIA G’99de Angel is principal and managing director of the Boston studio of Perkins&Will where she leads with a spirit of empowerment that continuously pushes teams to be agents of change—for the well-being of our communities, our planet and each other. A dedicated mentor, she finds joy in helping others elevate their own voice, become genuine leaders and craft a meaningful career path.
With a reputation for simplifying the complex and building consensus among stakeholder groups, de Angel has been instrumental in the growth of her firm’s global Higher Education practice, as well as the execution of large mixed-use projects in Boston and internationally. She has leveraged her expertise to spur significant initiatives such as ResilientSEE, a global platform of design professionals, private industry, and academia that offers comprehensive, pro-bono resilient planning and design to communities around the world. De Angel has served as Vice President of Practice for Boston Society of Architect (BSA) / AIA Board, co-chaired the BSA Women in Design (WiD) Excellence Awards committee, co-founded the BSA WiD Mid-Career Mentorship committee, and is an active CREW member.
de Angel has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from the University of Puerto Rico School of Architecture, a master’s degree in Architecture 1 from the Syracuse University School of Architecture, and a master’s degree in Design from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design with a concentration in History and Theory of Architecture. She has taught at Syracuse University, Maryland Institute College of Art, Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Northeastern University. In 2020, de Angel was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows. Today she serves on the Advisory Boards of various institutions including PROTECHOS, Sociedad Latina of Boston, and the Syracuse University School of Architecture Advisory Board; and she is a trustee at Wentworth Institute of Technology.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.
