In a decisive move to reshape the professional landscape and address persistent inequities, the American Society of Landscape Architects Fund has formally announced the selection of its 2024-2026 class for the Licensure Advancement Program. This targeted initiative represents a significant and ongoing commitment to dismantling the systemic barriers that professionals, particularly women from underrepresented groups, face on their path to professional licensure. Born from the principles outlined in ASLA’s 2020 Racial Equity Plan of Action, the program translates a vision for a more inclusive profession into direct, tangible support. By providing a structured framework of comprehensive aid and dedicated mentorship, the initiative is strategically designed to empower participants and equip them for long-term career success, fostering a more diverse and representative body of licensed practitioners.
The Program’s Purpose and Impact
The Importance of Licensure
The role of a licensed landscape architect extends far beyond design aesthetics, carrying the profound responsibility of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public. As emphasized by ASLA President SuLin Kotowicz, FASLA, PLA, this critical function makes professional licensure an indispensable standard for the field. Consequently, the profession’s leading organization has a dual mandate: not only to champion the importance of licensure at the state level but also to actively support the individuals navigating the demanding process of achieving it. Now entering its third year, the Licensure Advancement Program stands as a testament to this commitment and has become a source of immense pride for ASLA. Its success is celebrated for creating meaningful pathways for professional growth and for tangibly increasing the diversity within the ranks of licensed practitioners. President Kotowicz expressed profound optimism for the newest cohort, describing its members as “extraordinary” and conveying her excitement for the professional journeys that lie ahead for them.
The program’s effectiveness is not merely anecdotal but is substantiated by the concrete achievements of its past participants, demonstrating a clear return on the investment in targeted support. Several members from the inaugural and second cohorts have successfully navigated the rigorous requirements to become officially licensed landscape architects in states including California, Washington, and Tennessee. This progress continues to unfold, with two additional alumni currently in the final stages of applying for their state licenses, while a significant number of others are consistently advancing through the various sections of the Landscape Architectural Registration Exam (LARE). This impressive track record provides clear and compelling evidence that the program’s carefully constructed model of support is yielding positive and measurable results. The success of these alumni validates the initiative’s approach and serves as a powerful inspiration for the new class, reinforcing the idea that with the right resources and community, the barriers to licensure can be overcome.
A Proven Track Record
The program’s value is perhaps best captured through the experiences of its alumni, who highlight benefits that extend far beyond technical preparation and financial aid. Ana Cristina Garcia, ASLA, PLA, a member of the inaugural 2022-2024 class who became a newly licensed landscape architect in 2023, offered a powerful testament to its multifaceted impact. She described her participation as a pivotal opportunity to build a strong and resilient sense of community among women who shared similar personal stories and professional challenges. While the financial assistance for exams and access to high-quality study materials were undoubtedly practical and helpful components of her journey toward licensure, she characterized the network of supportive women she connected with as truly “invaluable.” This community, she believes, will remain an instrumental asset throughout her career, providing a foundation of peer support and shared experience that will continue to foster growth and collaboration long after the program’s conclusion.
Having directly benefited from the initiative, Ana Cristina Garcia’s journey has come full circle as she now serves on the selection committee for the 2024 class, embodying the program’s goal of cultivating future leaders who pay their success forward. She found the process of reading the applicants’ compelling stories and participating in the selection of the new members to be a profoundly inspirational experience. It reinforced her belief in the program’s potential to create a lasting, positive transformation within the profession. She now eagerly anticipates witnessing the individual successes of the new cohort and what she terms the collective “ripple effect” their achievements will create throughout the landscape architecture field. This cycle of mentorship and empowerment is central to the program’s long-term vision, ensuring that its impact will multiply with each new class, steadily building a more equitable and representative professional community for years to come.
The New Cohort and Program Structure
Meet the 2024-2026 Class
The newly selected 2024-2026 class is composed of ten distinguished women from groups that are among the most statistically underrepresented within the landscape architecture profession, marking a direct effort to diversify the field’s licensed practitioners. This cohort is notable for its geographic and professional diversity, ensuring the program’s influence will be felt across different sectors and regions. Members are based in major professional hubs, including California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York, and Washington, D.C. Their roles span a wide spectrum, from positions in private practice at renowned firms to influential work in landscape architectural education. The class includes Natalia Bezerra, ASLA, a Landscape Designer at Lee and Associates, Inc. in Washington, D.C.; Zeynep Göksel, ASLA, a Project Designer in Landscape Architecture at Snøhetta in New York; and MaFe Gonzalez, Assoc. ASLA, a Botanist and Landscape Designer at BASE Landscape Architecture in San Francisco.
The cohort’s breadth of experience and practice is further exemplified by its other members. Linda Heckenkamp, ASLA, is the Owner and Operator of LZH Consulting LLC in Tampa Bay, Florida, while Jessica Jerez, ASLA, leads as President of Jerez Design Group in Miami. From West Palm Beach, Florida, Rutusha Nagaraj Kapini, ASLA, serves as a Landscape Designer at Cotleur & Hearing. Lauren Luck, Assoc. ASLA, is a Landscape Designer at Thomas & Hutton in Savannah, Georgia. Stephanie Onwenu, ASLA, brings her unique perspective as a Visual Artist and Landscape Designer at ljeomalandartscapes LLC in Detroit, Michigan. Rounding out the class are Malda Takieddine, ASLA, the Founder of Ubuntu Landscape Architecture in Bellevue, Washington, and Ailsa Thai, Assoc. ASLA, a Landscape Designer at Studio-MLA in Los Angeles, California. This diverse group of professionals is poised to make significant contributions to the field.
A Framework for Success
To ensure each participant is positioned for success, the ten selected women will receive a personalized and comprehensive support package valued at over $3,500. This aid is meticulously structured to alleviate the most common barriers that aspiring landscape architects encounter on their path to licensure. The package includes crucial funding to cover the costs of the various sections of the Landscape Architectural Registration Exam (LARE), removing a significant financial burden. Furthermore, participants gain access to high-quality exam preparation courses and a wealth of study resources, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to excel. A cornerstone of the program is the dedicated, one-on-one mentorship from an established, licensed landscape architect who can offer guidance, share insights, and provide encouragement. This combination of financial, educational, and personal support creates a holistic framework designed to empower each woman on her unique journey.
The foundation of this impactful program was built upon the expertise of its selection committee and the generosity of key industry leaders. The meticulous selection of the new class was conducted by a distinguished committee of licensed professionals, including Misa Chen, ASLA, PLA, Studio Director and Founder of STUDIO EDITION; Ana Cristina Garcia, ASLA, PLA, of Mithun; and Elizabeth Kennedy, FASLA, PLA, founder of Elizabeth Kennedy Landscape Architect, PLLC (EKLA). Their collective experience ensured a rigorous and thoughtful selection process. The program itself was made possible by a foundational and generous $100,000 donation from a consortium of influential figures and organizations: former ASLA President Wendy Miller, FASLA, and James Barefoot; Marq Truscott, FASLA; Rachel Ragatz Truscott, ASLA; and the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). Their collective contribution provided the critical initial funding that launched this transformative initiative.
