Letter of Intent

Plastered on the walls of the landscape design lab at BYU are stickers that emphatically decree, “trees are the answer.” While this seemed like an obvious proclamation, it wasn’t until my professor sarcastically asked, “well, then what do you think is the question?” that I began to give it some serious thought. If trees really are the answer, what was the process in coming to that conclusion? I have started to formulate these questions as an undergraduate students, However, I feel this process has a wider application for not only tress, but how new questions can find new answers to issues we face today in our urban and natural environments. As a Profession Landscape Architect I hope to confront issues in the urban landscape in a way that will bring these new solutions; I hope to ask questions in a way that will facilitate positive change in our cities and communities. I believe that a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Pennsylvania State University will provide me with the tools and opportunities I need to reach these goals.

I find Dr. Cole’s and Dr. Gorenflo’s research to be especially applicable to my goals. As a landscape management student, I have been exposed to common practices in landscape maintenance, construction and design. I hope to use my background to find innovative solutions and make them practical and manageable. Dr. Cole and Dr. Gorenflo are looking outside our typical urban environment for answers to make it better. They are asking the right questions. I am especially intrigued by Dr. Gorenflo’s research on human interaction with their environment. I firmly believe that a healthy urban ecological environment can alleviate many emotional, social and environmental problems in our cities.During the summ...

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...althy or sustainable for the desert climate of the area. This neighborhood, like many others in the area, was disconnected from sources of food and required the residents to own a car to get anywhere. I felt uncomfortable in this space and the neighborhood was not all that inviting. I decided that I wanted to plan and design cities and neighborhoods that work with their environment and keep people connected. Learning how has been a longer process, but I believe that a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture will allow me to make that difference.

I want to study in an environment that facilitates positive growth in its students and allows them to explore their own interests with help from professors that understand issues we face in the urban environment. This is why I hope to work towards a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture at Pennsylvania State University.