Maryland Board of Certified Interior Designers

New Board Chair, Maryland State Board of Certified Interior Designers

On October 14, 2025, during its quarterly business meeting, the Board for Certified Interior Designers elected Carmen Parsons Sneed as the new chairperson. Carmen Parsons Sneed, NCIDQ, IIDA, is an independent senior designer and project manager. She holds a master's and a bachelor’s degree in architecture as well as a Bachelor of Science in Urban Affairs. With over 30 years of experience, she has worked in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, first in multifamily housing and then in commercial interior design. She has worked at commercial interiors firms in the DMV area and has experience with the federal government. Carmen is committed to service, as demonstrated by her time with the Maryland Board of Certified Interior Designers, her service as an advisory board member at a local university design school, and her volunteer efforts within and outside the design community. Throughout her career, she has mentored young design professionals and encouraged them to continue their path to licensure. She further supports the profession through her work on various IIDA teams and committees and through her collaborations with CIDQ.

State Board of Certified Interior Designers Outreach at Morgan State School of Architecture and Planning

By Carmen Parsons Sneed, NCIDQ, CID

The Maryland Board of Certified Interior Designers is committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public — and that commitment drives our 2026 outreach focus: connecting with students in interior design programs throughout Maryland, supporting emerging designers on the path to licensure, and helping certified designers navigate reciprocity.

Mentoring young professionals has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time in this profession. With that spirit, the Board’s Outreach Committee joined Kayla Karpp, Governance, Engagement, and Meetings Manager with the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ), for her scheduled presentation to interior design students at Morgan State University, led by Interim Interior Design Program Director Kimberly Morrison-Race.

Outreach Committee member Cindy Berardo, NCIDQ, CID, LEED AP and I represented the Board in March. We met an enthusiastic group of students with thoughtful questions about the NCIDQ exam and testing process. Graduating seniors were especially curious about reciprocity and building careers that may cross state lines — and Cindy and I were glad to speak candidly about why that path is worth it.

We also toured the design studio, connected with students sharing their current work, and had one-on-one conversations with parents and visiting high school students — a reminder that the pipeline to our profession starts early.

The Board’s Outreach Committee thanks Director Morrison-Race, Kayla Karpp, and every student who engaged so openly. If your interior design program is interested in connecting with us, we’d love to hear from you.