Stuckeman School professor to join ASLA discussion on racial justice and equity

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Marc Miller, assistant professor in the Stuckeman School’s Department of Landscape Architecture at Penn State, is making a special presentation at 2 p.m. on July 20 as part of a national American Society of Landscape Architects’ (ASLA) discussion on racial justice and equity in landscape architecture education. The “Racial In_Justice in Landscape Architecture Curricula” webinar will feature presentations from both Miller and Katya Crawford, associate professor and chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture at University of New Mexico, to address the bias and inequality they have witnessed in their roles in higher education and to explore positive steps moving forward. Each presentation will be followed by break-out sessions facilitated by members of ASLA’s Committee on Education (COE) to begin the difficult but necessary conversations about race while discussing tangible actions and sharing resources. Feedback from the groups will be incorporated in the COE’s Diversity and Racism Subcommittee action plans. “Recent national events have compelled us all to rethink the relationship between normalcy and systemic racism. We are also required to reconsider how design plays a role in reinforcing behaviors through history, theory and aesthetics,” said Miller, who is an ASLA member. “These discussions are part of my experiences as a person, a practitioner and as an educator. If we honestly aspire to be an inclusive profession, it is important that we reflect on what and how we teach students as North America becomes increasingly diverse.” Those interested in the attending the webinar, which is free and open to the public, can register via Zoom. Founded in 1889, ASLA represents more than 15,000 landscape architecture professionals in the United States. ASLA’s mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education and fellowship.