Voices of Women in Landscape Architecture, Part 12

Left to right: Jingyi Hu, ASLA, Jolene Rieck, ASLA, and Kaylin Slaughter, Associate ASLA

ASLA's Women in Landscape Architecture Professional Practice Network (WILA PPN) is sharing the next set of profiles of women in the profession (see the previous installment right here). If you'd like to be featured, the PPN's call for submissions will remain open, with profiles being shared on an ongoing basis.

Submit a WILA profile!

These profiles will appear on the PPN's LinkedIn group, Facebook group, and here on The Field. This post includes Jingyi Hu, ASLA, Jolene Rieck, ASLA, and Kaylin Slaughter, Associate ASLA.

Jingyi Hu, ASLA

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

My parents love planting. When I was a kid, they filled our little balcony with flowers and vegetables. They always proudly share greens and grapes with others because they can’t finish their harvest. They built a little fishpond with lotus planted in it, and it formed a mini ecosystem—bugs on the lotus feed the fish, fish waste feed the plants. I enjoy watching little magical moments happen in our garden and when I learned about landscape architecture, I knew it was for me.

Coming to Austin I got an opportunity to learn about the Food Forest. Jodi Lane and her amazing team built this beautiful place not only for the public to plant and harvest, but also a hub for the community to connect and thrive. Together with the adjacent community garden and food pantry, they helped their senior neighbors survive the Austin 2021 freeze. Through the food forest group, I saw my purpose in landscape architecture: to build a better living environment for the community.

Who are the female role models who have influenced your career?

My aunt – She became an architect in China about 30 years ago when there were not many women in the architecture field. And she was the first female board member in their company. She is a fighter and never gives up.

Nicole Warns, ASLA – She is my first mentor at TBG Partners and taught me how to be a professional. Her passion and caring shaped a healthy office culture.

Xin Yang – As an immigrant working in a landscape architecture office, I can feel insecure sometimes about language or culture. Xin was a very strong and beloved leader in our office, and she has always been the model and anchor for me and proving that nothing impossible.

Jodi Lane – One of the founders of the Festival Beach Food Forest in Austin. She started Fruitful Commons, a non-profit organization, after the Food Forest that focuses on helping other communities build their own food forest. She showed me that tactical design can make such a difference in our community.

What advice do you have for other women pursuing a career in landscape architecture?

Make friends with people in your community. You will find so many lovely human beings. You’ll find yourself eager to do something for them with your skills and specialties, and there are so many things you can learn from them, too.

Can you share with us a project you are particularly proud of and why?

All Abilities Playground – a playground project for people with special needs. We are having an amazing community engagement process. We are hearing from representatives of special need groups, caregivers, researchers, etc. I learned a lot about their stories, their happiness, and struggles. Hopefully we can deliver a project that meets the community’s expectations.

Food Forest Phase 2 – a volunteer project. The Food Forest has been a project that really inspired me and guided me in my career, and I have this honor to help in the phase 2 design and building process. I get to learn more about the Food Forest group, their social structure, and their belief in the community lead design practice.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are great mentors you won't want to miss learning from.

Jolene Rieck, ASLA

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

I was the daughter of a multi-generational family that was farmers during the 1980s farm crisis. I was advised never to select a career in agriculture, marry a farmer, or have anything to do with farming, so my path led me to pursue a degree in architecture. However, within months, I soon realized how my connection to the land was integral to my self-identity. I observed the landscape architecture majors' applied studio content and pivoted my major to landscape architecture. Learning about soils, plants, and water systems was natural, all within the context of improving communities, especially rural communities, through working together to connect people to their environment.

Who are the female role models who have influenced your career?

Sandy Fischer, FASLA, was pivotal to shaping my career as a young professional. She encouraged me to get involved in community boards and activities, which allowed me to expand my local network. She trusted me with important projects in both design and project management. And most importantly, she was a catalyst for me to start my firm. I owe so much to her leadership and landscape architect skills; she has impacted communities for generations. Dr. Ann Clancy is an executive coach and professional facilitator with whom we have partnered on projects for over 20 years. I lean on her to keep me accountable and forward-thinking. She introduced me to "appreciative planning," a transformative approach to working with groups to empower people. Dr. Melissa Baker is a parks and recreation professional whose enthusiasm and tenacity convinced me to pivot from private-sector entrepreneurship to public-sector service in my mid-career. Together, "we were like peas and carrots," transforming the delivery of state government services while empowering people, improving lives, and inspiring success.

What advice do you have for other women pursuing a career in landscape architecture?

The profession can lead you down many different paths: traditional design, environmental systems, community planning, public service, and non-profit leadership. Continue to be curious and open to others' viewpoints and perspectives. Explore areas beyond your specialty, as the world needs both generalists and specialists. Most importantly, volunteer in your communities and your professional associations. These will teach you soft skills and provide you with opportunities you have never even thought about.

Can you share with us a project you are particularly proud of and why?

I had the honor of working with Montana Veterans in establishing the first locally funded and constructed national veterans cemetery: Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, Montana. "My" veterans had a vision and were determined to get a place of perpetual rest in their geographic area. I was entrusted with learning and teaching the National Cemetery Administration's design criteria, leading the veterans through a complete design process, changing local, state, and federal legislation, establishing operations procedures, and assisting with fundraising. It fully displayed a landscape architect's skillsets for such an honorable and worthwhile purpose.

Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, Montana / image: Casey Page

When the Veterans Administration acquired the cemetery from our local county government, it was a precedent-setting action that impacted other veterans cemeteries nationwide. It was an honor to be a part of their vision and success.

What advice would you give your younger self?

When you love what you do and enjoy the outcomes of your success, be cognizant that your work can become your whole identity. Building your personal brand is essential, but be sure to have hobbies and take time for activities outside your vocation. A healthy work/life balance can provide more significant opportunities and prevent burnout.

Kaylin Slaughter, Associate ASLA

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

Discovering landscape architecture is a unique journey for each person. We all experience the outdoors in our own way, and whether they realize it or not, everyone has interacted with landscape architecture in some form. Like many others, I discovered landscape architecture gradually. Taking walks, bringing my little sister to neighborhood parks, and contemplating my big life decisions on my front porch planted seeds of appreciation in my mind.

When I was exploring career options, I initially wanted to study architecture. I loved math and art, and often joked that this career path would bridge the gap between the two. However, attending a lecture on architecture versus landscape architecture changed my perspective. I learned that while architects design for function and mass, landscape architects design for individuals. I discovered that landscape architecture is personal yet global, balancing function and aesthetics while serving people, communities, and the planet.

My passion grew for restoring landscapes and preserving history through design. Pursuing my BLA, I felt I was building on a knowledge that had grown with me—from a child who loved to run, climb, and explore, to an older sister, to a designer working in the very city I grew up enjoying. I am constantly inspired by the vastness of landscape architecture and the way landscape architects embody the roles of architects, artists, scientists, environmentalists, event planners, sculptors, and more.

Who are the female role models who have influenced your career?

I feel so lucky that most of my role models in this career are women. Naomi Sachs, PhD, ASLA, and Kate Orff, FASLA, are the first names that come to mind. Their work profoundly influenced my understanding of the diverse practices within landscape architecture. Furthermore, I am constantly inspired by the accessibility of these role models. They are not just names in a textbook; they are active, engaging professionals. I had the privilege of speaking with Naomi Sachs at the ASLA 2023 Conference on Landscape Architecture, and I follow Kotchakorn Voraakhom on Instagram. Additionally, Amy Wagenfeld, Affil. ASLA, edited an article I wrote for The Field. These women possess a wealth of knowledge about landscape architecture and its potential for change, and they are eager to share their expertise.

I also find inspiration in how these women have navigated societal roadblocks. Tiffany Beamer, ASLA, of OLIN, another woman I greatly admire as both a mentor and friend, has her own stories of resilience—just ask her about her pink pants. These women and many others inspire me to be accessible to students and professionals at all levels. They have demonstrated that mentorship builds bridges into the profession for those willing to seek it out, and it strengthens landscape architecture by fostering a diverse and passionate community of young people with innovative ideas.

What advice do you have for other women pursuing a career in landscape architecture?

Opportunities will not fall into your lap; you must be bold and speak up when you can. Remember, you are just as capable as the people around you in the studio. Take the research job, write the article, ask for help, and if you worry that your resume or portfolio isn't as impressive as your peers', focus on speaking honestly about your goals and working hard.

Equally important is being a source of support for others. Landscape architecture is a profession rooted in community, and you play a role in building that community. The worst response you can get is a "no," but the best outcome is finding someone who becomes a building block in the pursuit of your dreams.

Can you share with us a project you are particularly proud of and why?

My first design-build project as an intern remains a point of pride for me. It was a pro bono design for a discovery garden at the Parish School in Houston, Texas. A small group of us collaborated on the design, and the team ultimately selected mine. I vividly remember returning to work full-time at the same firm and my boss showing me photos of the completed space. The overwhelming joy I felt seeing my ideas come to life confirmed that I had chosen the right career. That moment, realizing the tangible impact of my work, is something I will never forget.

What advice would you give your younger self?

The advice I would give to a young Kaylin is to slow down and savor the details. As a professional, you come to appreciate the little things. You constantly dissect elements of your design down to the nuts and bolts, understanding how each part works and contributes to the functionality and beauty of the space. Walking through a park as a professional is vastly different from experiencing it as a student, high schooler, or child—you notice so much more. Life is like that, too. If you focus solely on the end goal—graduation, the degree, the job—you may miss the small details that make life fulfilling and beautiful. Slow down and savor the details.

Submit a WILA profile!

2024 WILA Profiles:

Voices of Women in Landscape Architecture, Part 1