Become a Fellow

To be considered for nomination for elevation to the ASLA Council of Fellows, an individual must:

• Be a current ASLA Full Member or International Member in good standing
• Have achieved at least 10 continuous years of FULL membership at the time of nomination.
• Have demonstrated exceptional contributions over an extended period of time.
• Have made a significant positive impact on the public and the profession.
• Have received recognition for those contributions from multiple sources.

Nominations may be made by the executive committee of a chapter, the executive committee of ASLA, or the executive committee of the Council of Fellows in one of four categories: Works, Leadership/Management, Knowledge, or Service. (Click on the Categories tab for details on each one.)

Any member of ASLA may recommend another eligible ASLA member for consideration as a nominee to the three groups mentioned above via written documentation highlighting the member’s accomplishments.

Recognizes: Mastery of design in significant works of landscape architecture, in its varied applications, which have advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of landscape architecture. Works may include small or large, public or private, local, regional, national, or international landscapes and range from conception (represented by reports, plans, or illustrations) to works which have been built or adopted.

Criteria - Key issues that the jury will look for include:

• Exceptional and/or innovative accomplishments in landscape architecture such as planning, design (including residential), conservation, preservation, rural, urban and regional design and planning (including infrastructure), graphic communication, and other work which the nominee has sustained over an extended period of time.
• Works which demonstrate mastery of the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of landscape architecture. Certain specific projects may choose to demonstrate social responsibility through sustainable development and other practices which contribute to societal health and wellbeing.
• Projects that demonstrate outstanding quality and significant impact on the profession and the public, as evidenced through recognition. Recognition may include publications, and/or awards from ASLA and/or allied international, national, regional, state, and/or local organizations, institutions or agencies.
• Projects which increase the visibility and recognition that landscape architecture is addressing critical environmental, social and cultural issues.

Guidance in Preparing the Nomination Package

• The central focus of the nomination package is to demonstrate how the nominee’s accomplishments have advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of landscape architecture; accomplishments which the nominee has sustained over an extended period of time.
• Summarize the significance of the nominee’s career and body of work in relation to the category criteria.
• Describe four or five completed projects that demonstrate the nominee’s achievements in relation to the criteria.
• While they may not reflect the most recent updates to the categories and requirements, reviewing the sample nominations is encouraged. 

Submission Requirements:

Each nomination must be uploaded through the online submission system on the ASLA Council of Fellows Nomination Submission Site, which includes additional instructions. Submission materials include: 

• The completed online submission form which must be approved by the chapter president, COF ExCom Chair, or ASLA President.
• The Nomination Statement (see required template, Word,  InDesign* and sample nominations). The Nomination Statement may be no more than five pages in length, portrait orientation, and must be in an easily readable typeface, such as Times Roman, Garamond, or Arial, no smaller than 10-point size, for all text.
• A headshot at least 300 dpi at 5x7” (equivalent to 1500x2100 pixels).
• A slide presentation in PDF form (required template) which may include up to 20 total images of the four or five completed projects included in the Nomination Statement.
  • Label each image with the nominee’s last name, the image number, the title of the project, and a descriptive caption of no more than 50 words. Only 20 images are allowed (20 images not 20 pages of images).
  • If an image is digitally enhanced, label it as such. Do not submit project photos with added or subtracted elements.
  • If an image is a digital 3D model or rendering, label it as such.  

Recognizes: Exemplary leadership, administration, and management of people, projects, policies, and/or programs that have significantly advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of the profession of landscape architecture and its practice, and/or the public recognition of issues regarding the design, planning, or management of projects, people and/or places. Exemplary leadership promoting landscape architecture or its values may be demonstrated in public, private, non-profit, and academic practice settings or, for example, by landscape architects holding elected or appointed offices.

Criteria - Key issues that the jury will look for include: 

• Exceptional and/or innovative, accomplishments which the nominee has sustained over an extended period of time.
• The influence and impact of the nominee’s accomplishments on the profession of landscape architecture and contribution to public recognition of the profession.
• Personal leadership, administrative and management ability demonstrated through the accomplishment of projects, (planning, design, development, implementation, performance evaluation, management/maintenance, etc.); programs, policies, procedures, and/or other initiatives which embody landscape architecture or its values.
• Notable activities that demonstrate courage and bravery that resulted in heightened recognition of the values and the legacy of the profession.
• Exemplary contributions which increase the visibility and recognition that landscape architecture is addressing critical environmental, social and cultural issues.

Guidance in Preparing the Nomination Package  

• The central focus of the nomination package is to demonstrate how the nominee’s accomplishments have advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of landscape architecture; accomplishments which would not have advanced without the nominee’s sustained efforts, undertaken over an extended period of time.
• Summarize the significance of the nominee’s career and body of work in relation to the category criteria.
• List specific activities in administration, management and leadership roles in organizations, agencies, and elected or appointed offices promoting landscape architecture or its values.
• Clearly identify the nominee’s role and impact in each activity and project cited.
• Explain the significance of the nominee’s accomplishments and their impact on the profession and the public.
• Summarize the nominee’s activities or leadership positions in organizations pertaining to this category.
• List all awards which the nominee has received from ASLA, allied organizations, and/or from other entities that align with the nomination criteria in the Leadership/Administration/Management category.
• Include up to four brief testimonial statements from individuals who can attest to the nominee’s achievements (testimonials might be sought from clients, peers, public officials, and/or allied professionals, for example).
• While they may not reflect the most recent updates to the categories and requirements, reviewing the sample nominations is encouraged.  

Submission Requirements:

Each nomination must be uploaded through the online submission system on the ASLA Council of Fellows Nomination Submission Site, which includes additional instructions. Submission materials include: 

• The completed online submission form which must be approved by the chapter president, COF ExCom Chair, or ASLA President.
• The Nomination Statement (see required template, Word, InDesign* and sample nominations). The Nomination Statement may be no more than five pages in length, portrait orientation, and must be in an easily readable typeface, such as Times Roman, Garamond, or Arial, no smaller than 10-point size, for all text.
• A headshot at least 300 dpi at 5x7” (equivalent to 1500x2100 pixels).
• An optional slide presentation in PDF form (see required template) which may include up to 10 total images that illustrate the nominee’s expertise, skills, experience and/or documents as described in the Nomination Statement.
  • Label each image with the nominee’s last name, the image number, the title of the project, and a descriptive caption of no more than 50 words.
  • Only 10 images are allowed (10 images not 10 pages of images).
  • If an image is digitally enhanced, label it as such. Do not submit project photos with added or subtracted elements.
  • If an image is a digital 3D model or rendering, label it as such.  

Recognizes: The creation of significant new knowledge that demonstrates expansion of existing knowledge, the communication of knowledge to others with exceptional effect: knowledge which has advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of landscape architecture. Creation of new knowledge may be in the form of research or scholarly inquiry that has been recognized by peers as worthy of publication. Communication of knowledge may be in the form of teaching or mentoring in either the university or workplace that has been recognized as outstanding by students, graduates, and peers. Communication of knowledge may also be in the form of published works or other media (video, software, etc.) that convey important ideas about landscape architecture with appropriate critical acclaim. This category is not specifically designated for educators but includes the broader vision of knowledge and how it may be disseminated.

Criteria - Key issues that the jury will look for include: 

• Exceptional and/or innovative accomplishments which would not have been advanced without the nominee’s sustained efforts, undertaken over an extended period of time.
• Specific influence of the nominee’s accomplishments on the profession’s and the public’s knowledge base of landscape architecture.
• The nominee’s personal role in advancing education, knowledge and/or the practice of the profession.
• Recognition may include research, grants, fellowships, publications, and/or awards from ASLA and/or allied international, national, regional, state, and/or local organizations, institutions or agencies, and/or from other entities.
• Exemplary contributions which increase the visibility and recognition that landscape architecture is addressing critical environmental, social and cultural issues.

Guidance in Preparing the Nomination Package

• The central focus of the nomination package is to demonstrate how the nominee’s accomplishments have advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of landscape architecture; accomplishments which the nominee has sustained over an extended period of time.
• Summarize the significance of the nominee’s career and body of work in relation to the category criteria.
• Explain the significance of the research or scholarship on which new or expanded knowledge is based. Communication of knowledge may be in the form of presenting, teaching and mentoring, published works, or other media (video, software, etc.) List all significant published material or other original work.
• Summarize the nominee’s activities or leadership positions in organizations pertaining to this category.
• List all awards the nominee has received from ASLA, allied organizations and/or from other entities that align with the nomination criteria in the Knowledge category.
• Include up to four brief testimonial statements from individuals who can attest to the nominee’s achievements (testimonials might be sought from clients, peers, public officials, and/or allied professionals, for example).
• While they may not reflect the most recent updates to the categories and requirements, reviewing the sample nominations is encouraged.

Submission Requirements:

Each nomination must be uploaded through the online submission system on the Council of Fellows Nomination Submission Site, which includes additional instructions. Submission materials include:

• The completed online submission form which must be approved by the chapter president, COF ExCom Chair, or ASLA President.
• The Nomination Statement (see required template, Word, InDesign* and sample nominations). The Nomination Statement may be no more than five pages in length, portrait orientation, and must be in an easily readable typeface, such as Times Roman, Garamond, or Arial, no smaller than 10-point size, for all text.
• A headshot at least 300 dpi at 5x7” (equivalent to 1500x2100 pixels).
• An optional slide presentation in PDF form (see required template) which may include up to 10 total individual images that reflect the nominee’s expertise, skills, experience and/or documents as described in the Nomination Statement.
  • Labeled each image with the nominee’s last name, the image number, the title of the project or activity, and a descriptive caption of no more than 50 words.
  • Only 10 images are allowed (10 images not 10 pages of images).
  • If an image is digitally enhanced, label it as such. Do not submit project photos with added or subtracted elements.
  • If an image is a digital 3D model or rendering, label it as such.

Recognizes: Pro bono volunteer service activities and accomplishments sustained over an extended period of time that have significantly advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of the profession of landscape architecture, promoted landscape architecture in the eyes of the public, and that serve as examples for other local, regional, national, or international efforts. 

Criteria - Key issues that the jury will look for include: 

• Exceptional, and/or innovative, accomplishments which would not have advanced without the nominee’s sustained efforts undertaken over an extended period of time.
• Sustained, pro bono volunteer efforts at local, state, national, and/or international levels that are truly inspiring and serve as an example to others. Accomplishments for which the nominee received compensation do not qualify as pro bono volunteer service.
• Notable activities and achievements that contribute to the advancement and public recognition of the profession of landscape architecture.
• Exemplary activities which contribute to increasing the visibility and recognition that landscape architecture is addressing critical environmental, social and cultural issues.

Guidance in Preparing the Nomination Package

• The central focus of the nomination package is to demonstrate how the nominee’s accomplishments have advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of landscape architecture; accomplishments which would not have occurred without the nominee’s sustained efforts, undertaken over an extended period of time.
• Summarize the significance of the nominee’s achievements as a professional and public volunteer in relation to the category criteria.
• List and explain nominee’s activities in promoting the profession and the value of landscape architecture to the public.
• Explain the significance of the nominee’s accomplishments and their impact on the profession and the public.
• Identify the nominee’s role in and impact on each activity or project cited; indicate if projects were done for compensation or pro bono.
• Summarize the nominee’s activities and leadership positions in organizations pertaining to this category.
• List all awards which the nominee has received from ASLA, allied organizations, community organizations and/or from other entities that align with the nomination criteria in the Service category.
• Include up to four brief testimonial statements from individuals who can attest to the nominee’s achievements (testimonials might be sought from clients, peers, public officials, and/or allied professionals, for example).
• While they may not reflect the most recent updates to the categories and requirements, reviewing the sample nominations is encouraged.  

Submission Requirements:

• Each nomination must be uploaded through the online submission system on the Council of Fellows Nomination Submission Site, which includes additional instructions. Submission materials include:
• The completed online submission form which must be approved by the chapter president, COF ExCom Chair, or ASLA President;
• The Nomination Statement (see required template, Word, InDesign* and sample nominations). The Nomination Statement may be no more than five pages in length, portrait orientation, and must be in an easily readable typeface, such as Times Roman, Garamond, or Arial, no smaller than 10-point size, for all text.
• A headshot at least 300 dpi at 5x7” (equivalent to 1500x2100 pixels).
• An optional slide presentation in PDF form (see required template) which may include up to 10 total images that illustrate the nominee’s expertise, skills, experience and/or documents as described in the Nomination Statement.
  • Label each image with the nominee’s last name, the image number, the title of the project or activity, and a descriptive caption of no more than 50 words.
  • Only 10 images are allowed (10 images not 10 pages of images).
  • If an image is digitally enhanced, label it as such. Do not submit project photos with added or subtracted elements.
  • If an image is a digital 3D model or rendering, label it as such.