Micène R. Fontaine (Senior Executive Consultant, Advisory Council)

As the Executive Director at Design Arts Seminars, Inc. (DAS), Micène R. Fontaine is a tireless advocate for greater representation of Black and Brown practitioners in architecture and design.

Design Arts Seminars is an accredited provider of continuing education since 1992. Since 1999, Micène has served the continuing education needs of design professionals nationwide in various capacities at DAS. 

Being an immigrant who somehow managed to fail first grade, Micene knows the experience of being marginalized and devalued as a student; however, he persevered and earned his Master’s Degree in Adult Education. 

Micene also knows that only 3.8% of Designers are Black, and only 5.8% of Architects are Black. Micene partnered with Rhodes2Equity Consulting to foster diversity in design and architecture by helping train, connect, and empower the next generation of professionals. He collaborated with R2E to pilot an extremely successful experiential-learning exchange between students in urban Atlanta area public schools and those in rural Harlan County, Kentucky, that emphasized hands-on architectural design using a community-based process.

Micène was born and raised in France’s Normandy region. He came to the United States in 1998 as Junior Business Ambassador under a joint program between the Paris-based National School of Commerce and the Institute for European Studies. Micène is your go-to person for questions regarding the development, promotion, and production of in-person, online, correspondence, or abroad continuing education programs for design professionals. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or via email at micene@designarts.org.