Dylan Ferrer, a fourth-year Architecture student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, views the built environment as a powerful medium for storytelling and social advocacy. Raised in the culturally rich landscape of San Diego, she creates design narratives that amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Her academic dedication is demonstrated by her recognition as an AP Scholar with Honor. Her educational journey has been shaped by an intensive inquiry into how city planning influences social longevity, a pursuit that took her to nine European countries, including Switzerland and Finland, as part of the selective Cal Poly Global Program. This experience fundamentally reshaped her understanding of architecture as an expression of culture and a symbol of societal progression.

Professionally, Dylan grounds her work in the philosophy of sustainable design. She defines this approach as a vital convergence of ecology, economics, and social equity. She has applied this framework through professional roles as a Contract Drafter for McMillin and an intern at Bokal and Sneed Architects. In these capacities, she developed expertise in architectural documentation, producing 2D drawings for legal and client-specific documents using industry-standard digital modeling and drafting applications.

Dylan’s dedication to cultural exchange comes alive through her leadership in the Pilipino Cultural Exchange (PCE). As the Modern Dance Coordinator, she utilizes her seven years of dance knowledge to choreograph performances that serve as visceral celebrations of the Filipino-American experience and foster a sense of ethnic pride among her peers. This spirit of service extends to her role mentoring first through third-year architecture students within the PCE program and her history of executive positions in the Mabuhay Club. She believes architecture must bridge voiceless communities by creating spaces that facilitate this essential cultural exchange.

As she looks toward a career that spans international borders, Dylan is anchored by the Filipino philosophy of Isang Bagsak. This principle translates to "one fall" or the idea that a community rises and falls together. It shapes her professional mission to dedicate her life to civic design that sustainably responds to the public, ensuring that architectural developments honor cultural histories while actively supporting communal growth and allyship for underrepresented populations.