Built from Within: Different Paths. Shared Stories. Stronger Together.

What does it take to build a career, a life, and a sense of belonging?

Built From Within brings together the powerful, personal stories of women working across architecture, design, construction, and the built environment. Their paths are rarely straight. They have navigated career pivots, motherhood, sacrifice, uncertainty, leadership, setbacks, reinvention, and the challenge of finding their voices in industries where women have not always had a seat at the table.

Born from the community of AIA Long Island Women in Architecture, this collection goes beyond professional accomplishments to explore the people behind the titles. Each woman shares the experiences, choices, challenges, and moments of courage that shaped her career and, ultimately, shaped who she became.

Together, these stories offer a candid look at what it means to build a life and career on your own terms. They reveal the importance of mentorship, the strength found in community, the courage to change direction, and the power of women making space for one another.

You do not have to work in architecture or construction to see yourself in these pages. Within is for anyone who has questioned her path, started over, carried more than others could see, or discovered that the most meaningful transformation begins from the inside.

Because what we build in the world often begins with what we build within ourselves.

Ebru Sülker Hunter serves as Director of Construction at Mancini Mui Architecture and Construction, where she leads project estimating, manages construction schedules, coordinates subcontractors, and oversees issue resolution throughout active construction phases. In addition to her leadership in construction, Ebru is an accomplished architectural designer with more than two decades of experience developing design concepts and preparing comprehensive construction documents across retail, residential, commercial, healthcare, and hospitality sectors.Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Ebru is Turkish American, and her cultural background continues to influence both her personal perspective and her professional approach. She began her career in a mechanical engineering office, where she developed a strong foundation in systems coordination and technical integration, shaping her comprehensive understanding of the relationship between design and construction.Ebru earned her Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the New York Institute of Technology, where she also studied abroad in Italy, Switzerland, and Spain, focusing on architectural history and historic structures. She later returned to NYIT as an Adjunct Professor, teaching courses in Visualization Design, Design Fundamentals, Environmental Systems, and Building Construction, where she emphasized the integration of creative design and technical execution.In 2020, Ebru founded ES Consultants LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to improving project coordination and refining construction documentation practices within the industry. Her work bridges the gap between architecture and construction, fostering communication, collaboration, and streamlined execution across project teams.A passionate advocate for women in the industry, Ebru co-founded the Women in Architecture Committee under AIA Long Island in 2018 and previously co-founded the AIA Queens Emerging Professionals in Architecture in 2015. Through mentorship, leadership, and education, she continues to support the advancement of emerging professionals while encouraging women to pursue careers in architecture, construction, and engineering.

Graciela Carrillo, FAIA, is a Senior Manager at Nassau BOCES Facilities Services, where she coordinates capital and operational projects for school districts across Nassau County. She is deeply involved with the American Institute of Architects at the local, state, and national levels and currently serves as AIA 2025-2027 At-Large Director. Her leadership includes serving as 2024 Moderator of the AIA Strategic Council, AIA New York State representative to the Strategic Council, President of AIA Long Island, Young Architects Forum New York State Director, and Co-Founder of the AIA Long Island Women in Architecture Committee.She is also Co-Founder of the Immigrant Architects Coalition, a nonprofit supporting immigrant architects. She has co-authored three books on immigrant designers and professionals, and contributed to the book Latinas in Architecture, published by Arquitina, a nonprofit organization. She was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2025 and her honors include the AIA Young Architect Award, AIA New York State President's Honor Award, AIA Long Island Community Service Award, and AIA New York State Matthew Del Gaudio Award.