https://www.nationalamla.org/home3 daily 0.75 2020-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/1594271273339-LE01OJGB09DS4CAYCPX6/image-asset.jpeg Home The National Association of Minority Landscape Architects (NAMLA) mission is to champion racial, cultural and class diversity at all levels of landscape architecture education and practice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/1594271519893-KLANYJ4JI5IW3I6AL4UE/image-asset.jpeg Home Show your support through financial donations or by joining one of our activist committees. https://www.nationalamla.org/make-a-donation daily 0.75 2020-10-12 https://www.nationalamla.org/home daily 1.0 2026-06-20 https://www.nationalamla.org/get-involved daily 0.75 2023-03-25 https://www.nationalamla.org/our-purpose daily 0.75 2025-01-03 https://www.nationalamla.org/firm-directory daily 0.75 2026-07-27 https://www.nationalamla.org/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2020-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/1599376529942-T9955C41OTZKNGXR57G6/NAMLA_Slideshow_Image_01_WhiteBackground.png New Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/1599442672462-TEEPK5N22ELAXJCGARCV/Slideshow_Image_02.jpg New Page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/1599376577878-VUP8MQGO4R7FFJDMOUJA/Slideshow_Image_03_KEEP.jpg New Page https://www.nationalamla.org/job-listings daily 0.75 2026-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/403749ad-f639-4727-adea-c8202180b45d/Untitled+design%2813%29.png Job Listings - University of Pennsylvania: Weitzman School of Design Job Opening The McHarg Fellowship November 6, 2026 The McHarg Fellowship is a teaching and research fellowship award given by the McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology to an emerging voice in landscape architecture and its related fields. The Fellowship is awarded competitively on an annual basis and the selected fellow is expected to be in residence at the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design, in Philadelphia, full-time for one academic year, from the beginning of the Fall semester (August) through the end of the following Spring semester (May). The purpose of the Fellowship is to create a unique opportunity for an emerging professional and/or academic who would benefit most from support to conduct research, to teach, and to be mentored by faculty during the term of the fellowship. The award includes $76,000 paid as salary to the fellow and an additional $4,000 awarded as a discretionary stipend for travel, research, and exhibition-related expenses. Housed in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, the McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology was launched in 2019 as a transdisciplinary platform for collaborative research supporting the future of life on Earth. The Center funds and broadcasts original scholarly research; convenes students, faculty, and practitioners; and awards the annual McHarg Fellowship. It adheres to the values set forward by the Weitzman School of Design and the University of Pennsylvania. Expectations Though the structure of the fellowship is flexible, it is expected that the fellow be in residence from August 1, 2027 through May 31, 2028 and undertake both teaching and research at the Weitzman School of Design. The fellow may be assigned teaching roles in the Department of Landscape Architecture as part of a team in the August Summer Institute and in a core landscape design studio during the fall semester (either Studio I, which focuses on the fundamentals of site-based inquiry and design, or Studio III, which focuses on regional-scale social and ecological systems), as well as a new elective seminar related to their research during the spring semester. The fellow is expected to conduct research concurrently and participate in the intellectual and cultural life of the school. They will be invited to present their work-in-progress to the standing faculty of the Department of Landscape Architecture at least once during their fellowship appointment, and to make a public presentation of their work during the spring semester. The department’s faculty is available to support and mentor the fellow during their fellowship year. Qualifications Minimum qualifications: a professionally accredited bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in landscape architecture (or the international equivalent) is required. Graduate or undergraduate level teaching experience in landscape architecture is preferred but not required. Application Instructions Applicants should submit a cover letter addressed to the McHarg Fellowship Search Committee expressing their interest in the fellowship and their agenda for research and scholarship; a curriculum vitae; and a 10-page portfolio of their creative work (8.5”x11” PDF file format, maximum 10MB). In addition, applicants should provide the names of three references who will be contacted at a later time. Application Process This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge. Applications should be addressed to the Chair of the McHarg Fellowship Search Committee. Review of applications will begin on January 1, 2027, and will continue until the fellowship position is filled. The fellowship position will begin on August 1, 2027. Questions should be directed to Melissa DiGiacomo, Assistant Director of Administration / Department Coordinator, Landscape Architecture, at: landarch@design.upenn.edu https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/87655d70-e063-4668-be74-70d6ec1ce5e3/Untitled+Design%2811%29.png Job Listings - University of Pennsylvania: Weitzman School of Design Job Opening Assistant or Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture October 2, 2026 Penn’s Department of Landscape Architecture seeks an Assistant or Associate Professor to teach graduate design studios and seminars and conduct innovative design research. The department’s ecological approach advances social, environmental, and multispecies justice. The school offers collaboration across five departments. This full-time tenure-track or tenured appointment includes teaching, research, and service. Rank depends on experience and qualifications. Penn offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and support for work-life balance. Applicants must demonstrate teaching effectiveness, pedagogical innovation, and scholarly and creative capacity through publications, design research, and future research plans. Location: Philadelphia, PA Qualifications An accredited professional master’s degree in landscape architecture or a terminal degree in a closely related field is required. A relevant PhD is welcomed but not required. Application Instructions Submit a cover letter outlining design research, scholarship, and teaching philosophy; CV; two recent publications or writing samples; two recent course syllabi; a student-work teaching portfolio (15MB maximum); an individual creative-work design portfolio (15MB maximum); and names of three references, to be contacted later. Review begins in October 1, 2026, and continues until filled. The appointment begins July 1, 2027; the selected candidate is expected to be in residence in Philadelphia to teach in fall 2027. https://www.nationalamla.org/student-chapters daily 0.75 2026-01-27 https://www.nationalamla.org/board-of-directors daily 0.75 2026-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/ac11e0b7-448c-4319-b7db-d4df1176e992/jennlow+-+headshot+-+2026.jpg Board of Directors - Jenn Low, PLA, LEED AP, Director Jenn is the Founder and Principal of Care-ful Ground, where she works with planning and design partners to create culturally and environmentally resilient places with communities. She has a twenty-year career grounded in a love of place, the communities that shape them, and the ecological systems that sustain them. Jenn spent the first twelve years of her career as a landscape architect, strengthening the quality of and access to public space across the East Coast, California, and the Pacific Northwest. Since then, she's translated her design and planning experiences towards community-driven research, cultural preservation, public space activations, program design, and strategic partnership development at the Landscape Architecture Foundation, The Urban Studio, 1882 Foundation, and Openbox. Jenn earned her Bachelor's in Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington and her Master's in Integrative Design at the University of Michigan. She also serves on the 1882 Foundation Board and is a core organizer with Dark Matter U. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/7c5d3274-de2a-489b-88d1-b3fbfacd6e61/Maria+Villalobos.jpg Board of Directors - Maria A. Villalobos H., Ph.D, Director Villalobos is an Associate Professor at IIT in Chicago and Director of the Master in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism program. She earned her Ph.D. at the esteemed School of Landscape Architecture of Versailles, France, where she delivered a dissertation on the Botanical Garden of Roberto Burle Marx, which explored the creative process for the regeneration of urban landscapes. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she received the first prize in the Venezuelan Architecture Biennial in 2017 for the Rehabilitation of the Botanical Garden of Maracaibo. Villalobos also holds a Master in Design Studies from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and was honored with the Annual Award for Excellence in Housing Design in 2004. Her professional experience includes working at the New York Department of City Planning from 2005 to 2009, focusing on the recovery of Lower Manhattan after 9/11, and developing world-class public projects in New York, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro as part of the team at Arup NYC. As Co-Founding Artist Creator at Botanical City, Villalobos emphasizes preserving endangered cultural landscapes and overcoming abandonment in cities. She serves on the Lincoln Yards Advisory Council, the Committee on Design for the Department of City Planning in Chicago, as well as a Board Member of Friends of the Park in Chicago and a Core Member of Dark Matter University. Her contributions to the field have earned her the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture 2022 Excellence in Design Studio Teaching Award, and she currently serves as a Board Member of Friends of the Park in Chicago since 2023. https://www.nationalamla.org/newsletter-archive daily 0.75 2024-05-05 https://www.nationalamla.org/volunteers daily 0.75 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/2ae9e548-38e9-4792-8f04-f1b105b4b4dc/Mavi_Headshot.jpg Volunteers - Maria Victoria Arias, Volunteer Born and raised in Venezuela, Maria Victoria Arias Montero, also known as Mavi, graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and is currently working on her Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a founding member of the National Association of Minority Landscape Architects student chapter at UC Davis, and founding member of the National Association of Minority Landscape Architects at University of Pennsylvania. Mavi's primary aim is to create a sense of community where everyone's voices are heard, and to increase minority representation in higher education. In addition to her leadership roles and academic accomplishments, Mavi was awarded the title of 2023 LAF Olmsted Scholar for her outstanding leadership within the LA+ED program at UC Davis. Mavi worked as a Research Assistant on a project titled "Understanding the socio-economic benefits of educational outdoor recreation programs for underserved youth of color." The project is a collaboration between UC Davis, the US Forest Service, and an organization in the Los Angeles area called Outward Bound Adventures. Through this research, she contributed to the betterment of underserved communities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/5d033606-db97-482c-9413-c1357001ab33/Darius_Bottorff_Headshot.jpg Volunteers - Darius Bottorff, Volunteer NAMLA Volunteer Darius Bottorff is a Landscape Designer who graduated with a BSLA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is currently working on his MLA from Harvard Graduate School of Design. In his leisure, he's a digital and traditional artist using bold colors and mediums such as acrylic, watercolor, poster color, and ballpoint pen. When he's not tackling creative projects, he's playing soccer, volleyball, or volunteering with NAMLA. Darius strives to help NAMLA spread awareness of underrepresented and underserved populations in Landscape Architecture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/d23cacc4-82e2-410a-90c6-f7474b59625d/Annette+Contreras+-+Official+Headshot.jpg Volunteers - Annette Contreras Buenrostro, Volunteer Annette Contreras Buenrostro is a landscape designer at Curtis + Rogers Design Studio in Miami, Florida with a passion for environmental justice and community-driven public spaces. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Davis in 2024 with a minor in International Agricultural Development. Her academic and professional work explores the intersection of ecology, equity, and urban design through research-based methods, focusing on projects that empower underserved communities. Annette has contributed to a range of design and planning initiatives including transit-oriented development, climate adaptation strategies, coastal resilience, urban farming, and public realm improvements across South Florida and Northern California. She brings a holistic and people-centered approach to design, with the belief that equity is both measurable and achievable through landscape architecture. Previously, she served as Treasurer and Vice President of the National Association of Minority Landscape Architects (NAMLA) at UC Davis and has gained additional experience with the USDA Forest Service, UC Davis Medical Center, and the City of Sacramento Planning Department, and more. Outside of landscape architecture, you’ll probably find Annette exploring nature, geeking out over insects and plants, cooking something new, running long distances, or planning her next travel adventure in Mexico. In her role as NAMLA’s Student Chapter Liaison, she aims to promote mentorship, visibility, and leadership opportunities for emerging minority designers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/66c1721a-02c0-4dc7-9ad8-ec3d36eee6eb/Fatema+Ali+Tuschi.jpg Volunteers - Fatema Ali Tushi, Volunteer Fatema is an architect and landscape architect who is a strong supporter of the idea that good design must not merely fulfill code but also provide positive experiences for people. Having more than 5 years of experience in architecture and 3 years experience in landscape architecture, Fatema applies a multidisciplinary lens to everything she does — which is largely driven by social and cultural equity. Being a lifelong animal lover, an adventurous traveler, and an unashamed free soul, Fatema is attracted to places that narrate a story of place recognition and place evolution. She is oriented toward leadership through service, mentoring, and promoting global diversity and inclusion. She joined NAMLA to collaborate on working towards achieving positive outcomes for people, planet and places. https://www.nationalamla.org/staff daily 0.75 2025-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/88993e38-516a-499a-a40c-82bb1f097848/Steven+Chavez+Headshot+Square+2025.jpg Staff - Steven Chavez, Executive Director NAMLA Founder and Executive Director Steven Chavez was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. He is a licensed landscape architect and Founder of TOPOGRAM, a Los Angeles-based landscape architecture practice. Steven currently teaches landscape architecture at UCLA Extension. Steven’s core values include creating experientially rich and enduring public spaces, especially in underserved communities. His observations of racial inequity within the landscape architecture profession prompted him to found NAMLA. The lack of people of color in decision-making roles that shape how American landscapes are planned, utilized, designed, and taught continues to fuel his commitment to the organization. Steven holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Art in Photography, with an emphasis on urban landscape photography, from the University of Ulster. An avid photographer of interstitial public spaces, Steven uses photography to hybridize art, architecture, and landscape while exploring new types of affordable, small-scale urban prototypes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e671e595cc05f676058b2ec/69bc2884-d5aa-4ba4-a73f-8c086b7fc333/Brenda+Rodriguez.jpg Staff - Brenda Rodriguez, Secretary NAMLA Secretary and Treasurer Brenda L. Rodriguez was born and raised on the Texas-Mexico border — in Brownsville, TX. She’s been a journalist for 25 years, covering news in Texas and currently producing entertainment news stories in Los Angeles. Additionally, she has managed news websites for MSN and AOL. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. While her career has spanned print, digital and television, one thing has remained constant: she is passionate about contributing to her community and helping minorities succeed in the workplace. She believes in the work NAMLA is doing and wants to see students and professionals benefit from the resources NAMLA has to offer. During her spare time, Brenda volunteers with Hang Out, Do Good (HODG) and the Los Angeles Community Fridges (LACF) group. For Hang Out, Do Good, she makes lunches for the Hollywood Food Coalition to feed people in need; in addition, to contributing other resources. https://www.nationalamla.org/donorsandsponsors daily 0.75 2025-10-08