Landscape Architecture alumni notes
Ed. note: The following updates were submitted with the Landscape Architecture alumni survey June-September 2008.
Al Amiot (BLA, 1972)
Senior construction project manager, Target Corp.
Richard Tenner Murphy Jr. (BLA, 1975; BED, 1975)
President/CEO, Murphy Companies
Murphy just completed his 21st year teaching the professional practice course. He sits on the College of Design Advisory Board and is the immediate past chair of the Center for Transportation Studies Board. He is also a member of Supply Chain Board for the Carlson School of Management where he completed an MBA in 1986.
Paul Howard Barton (BLA, 1977)
President, Landshapes, Inc.
Douglas Kenneth Benson (BLA, 1978)
Owner, Benson Design, Inc.
Jon Bryan Burley (BLA, 1978)
Associate professor, Michigan State University
Burley has published more than 200 papers and abstracts, and one book. He is chair of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) International Professional Practice Network, has won six ASLA chapter awards, two national ASLA Awards, and is a three-time winner of Landscape Architecture Faculty of the Year Award at Michigan State University. He is chair of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR) Land-Use Technical Division and a member of Transportation Research Board AFB40 committee of the National Academy of Sciences.
Steven C. Durrant (BLA, 1978)
Senior associate/senior landscape architect, Steve Durrant
Durrant is a member of the executive board of The Waterfront Center.
Jon Michael Fox (BLA, 1978)
Department chair, International Center for Studies in Creativity
Fox is the author of Exploring the Nature of Creativity, an introductory textbook for college students inquiring into the nature and nurture of creativity. The third edition will be published in August 2009. Fox is currently teaching creative thinking skills in seven countries around the world.
Elizabeth Rauenhorst Hacker (BLA, 1978)
Columnist and artist
Hacker (Rauenhorst) retired from landscape architecture in 2002 to persue her interest in art. She now writes a monthly column, "Birds of the Palmer Divide."
Lindy Leonard Wolner (BLA, 1978)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources
Wolner is USACE Liaison to the fifth World Water Forum, Istanbul 2009
and was featured in the summer 2008 issue of the Department of Landscape Architecture newsletter.
Edward James Hasek (BLA, 1979)
Senior landscape architect and planner, retired
Todd Lewis (BLA, 1979)
Owner, Lewis Environmental Consulting LLC
Lewis has recently shifted the focus of his practice from mine closure and reclamation to environmental management and permitting of new mining projects.
John Koepke (BLA, 1981)
Associate professor, University of Minnesota
Koepke has stepped down as the head of the Department of Landscape Architecture after 13 years. He is currently on sabatical and will return to teach in the department in fall 2009.
Todd R. Wichman (BLA, 1984)
Owner and principal, Todd Wichman Landscape Architecture, LLC
Wichman completed a national two-year term as vice president of professional practice for the ASLA in October 2008. As part of his duties, he provided ASLA oversight to the sustainable sites initiative, a joint-partner initiative to develop a site-based rating system and metrics by 2012. He was recently appointed as chair designate (2010) for the Professional Practice Network Council.
Vern Scott Holmgren (BLA, 1985)
Owner and principal, Innovative Land Design Associates
Holmgren has served on the Michigan ASLA executive committee for approximately six years, focusing on mentorships and sustainability. He has taught at Lawrence Technological University and Michigan State University.
John N Matsiko (BLA, 1989; BED, 1989)
Computer network engineer, self-employed
Matsiko graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master of Landscape Architecture degree (GIS/Planning) in 1992. He worked as a transportation planner for the City of Tucson from 1992-94.
Michael Glenn Wasser (BLA, 1989)
Principal, Hines/Wasser + Associates
Hines/Wasser and Associates are currently completing their first international project in Shanghai, China. Other projects include Cordage Park Development in Plymouth, Massachuesetts; Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and a new Astra Zeneca American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Boston.
Daryl Alan Beyers (BED, 1996)
Magazine editor, Taunton Press
Beyers authored of two volumes of Great Gardens which included design profiles of 20 private gardens from across the country.
Diane Hellekson (MLA, 2000)
Landscape architect, HNTB Corp.
Mohit Maheshwari (MLA, 2001)
Landscape architect and project manager, Parsons Corporations
Maheshwari is a registered landscape architect practicing in Missouri.
David Motzenbecker (MLA, 2001)
Associate, Oslund.and.Assoc.
Motzenbecker was recently accepted as a 2008 fellow in the British-American Project. He has served as the president of the Minneapolis Planning Commission since 2005.
Catherine "Cassie" Neu (MLA, 2002)
Landscape architect, LHB
Neu's work with Architecture for Humanity took her to Sri Lanka last summer for the dedication ceremony of a learning center she helped design.
Jeffrey J Zeitler (MLA, 2003)
Landscape architect, TKDA
Kerri Eckardt Liljegren (MLA, 2005)
Project manager, Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey
Liljegren received LEED accreditation.