Laura Porter has been selected as director of the Iowa Architectural Foundation. Porter most recently was director of operations at Civic Music Association of Des Moines. Porter, who obtained a doctorate degree in U.S. history from the University of Notre Dame, has also taught at Sciences Po-Reims in France, the University of Florida and Drake University. Porter replaces Claudia Cackler, who led the foundation for over six years. Porter “is a proven leader with the vision and organizational skills to take this organization to the next level,” Brian Crichton, the foundation’s board chair and head of the search committee, said in a prepared release. “She also has a deep passion for the impact that architecture has on our communities and history.” Among Porter’s goals for the foundation is building connections with K-12 schools.