Voices of Women in Landscape Architecture, Part 25

Left to right: Megan Schoonmaker / image: courtesy of SeamonWhiteside. Judith Venonsky, ASLA / image: Sahar Coston-Hardy, Affiliate ASLA. Emily Milliman, ASLA, PLA / image credit: Amy B Paulson Photography.

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 remains open, with profiles being shared on an ongoing basis.

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These profiles will appear on the PPN's LinkedIn group, Facebook group, and here on The Field. This post includes: Judith Venonsky, ASLA, Megan Schoonmaker, and Emily Milliman, ASLA, PLA.

Judith Venonsky, ASLA

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

I spent 20 years in a previous career as a creative director/art director in advertising. While the creativity was fulfilling, I was missing the opportunity to make a difference. I had always been passionate about architecture, environmental issues, and horticulture. I began slowly by auditing classes in architecture at Princeton University and then took courses at the New York Botanical Garden Landscape Architecture program. Convinced that I could combine my love of science, design, and social change I applied to University of Pennsylvania and was accepted into the Master of Landscape Architecture program. I am now almost 20 years into my career and have never looked back.

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

Lucinda Sanders, FASLA, Mikyoung Kim, FASLA, Andrea Cochran, FASLA, Susan Weiler, FASLA, Kate Orff, FASLA, Shannon Nichol, FASLA, Hallie Boyce, FASLA

Judith Venonsky, ASLA / image: Sahar Coston-Hardy, Affiliate ASLA

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

I have found that the glass ceiling does not exist in the way it may have 20 years ago in our field. If you want to be a leader, follow your strengths and your passions. Look to role models, but follow your own path. Stay curious. Mentor others, as it helps to clarify your own vision.

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

Pier 26 in Manhattan was a project with many constraints. It is built over structure with minimal soil depths to minimize weight. It pushed the envelope as to what could be planted in a very small footprint that represented four native ecotones along the Hudson River estuary and freshwater riparian ecology and upland zones. Most exciting was the ability to create very different ecological environments for the public to experience and a variety of socially activated spaces, from lounging to a small sports court. The entire construction process was also completed during COVID, which was a challenge in itself.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don't panic.

Megan Schoonmaker

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

I’ve always loved the mix of creativity and problem-solving that comes with design. Science and art were always my favorite subjects growing up, so I was always searching for a profession that could blend the two together. Landscape architecture felt like the perfect balance of art and function, where I could create spaces that make a real impact on people and the environment.

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

I’ve had the chance to work with so many strong and talented women who lead with creativity, kindness, and confidence. Watching them take on challenges and encourage others has really shaped how I approach my own work. Frances Yarbrough, a director in SeamonWhiteside’s Charlotte office, is someone I consistently try to emulate in my career, as she is an amazing leader and communicator while maintaining a great work-life balance.

image: courtesy of SeamonWhiteside by Quinn Travis

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

Speak up and trust your perspective. Your voice and ideas bring something valuable to the table. Keep learning, stay curious, and surround yourself with people who push you to grow. Landscape architecture is an interesting field because there is almost never a “right” answer to any question; there are a million ways to solve every problem, so trusting your gut and advocating for your ideas is fundamental to success.

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

I’m proudest of projects where our team worked together to find creative solutions for tricky design challenges. Those moments remind me why I love what I do and how collaboration can turn an idea into something truly meaningful. The Hilton Club Liberty Place in Charleston is a great example of that because the site is rooted in so much history and had many design constraints to consider. Our team had to work very closely with the architect, the civil engineers, the contractor, and the adjacent community to ensure that we created a cohesive design that honored the site's history and fit into the existing neighborhood vernacular, while still creating a new and interesting site.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to speak up. Every challenge teaches you something important, and the growth along the way is what shapes you into the designer you want to be. Learn how to confidently advocate for your ideas. There are no right answers in design!

Emily Milliman, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP

Emily Milliman, ASLA, PLA / image: Amy B Paulson Photography

What inspired you to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

Growing up near Forest Park, the park felt like an extension of our backyard. We spent hours biking along the paved paths, finding cut-throughs between neighborhoods, visiting the zoo, the art museum, and the science center, and playing tennis or racquetball. Sometimes, we’d simply go for a drive to see the park in different seasons. I knew I loved being there, but I didn’t realize until college that there was a professional field dedicated to creating those kinds of experiences for communities—landscape architecture.

I started out majoring in architecture at Miami University, and while studying abroad in Florence, Italy, through the Kent State program, I was introduced to landscape architecture. I became fascinated by the relationship between buildings and their sites—how design could connect people with nature and root places in their local ecologies. My background in art and math, combined with five summers working at the American Youth Foundation’s Camp Miniwanca, led me to pursue a Master’s in Landscape Architecture.

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

Deneen Crosby, FASLA — Deneen taught me the value of integrating design with construction and approaching the site with curiosity. As a principal at Crosby Schlessinger & Smallridge in Boston, she asked thoughtful questions, had a sharp eye for what wasn’t working—on drawings or in the field—and always focused on finding solutions. Often one of the few women at the table, her example made me confident in my own place in the profession.

Cullen Meves, ASLA — An incredible project manager, Cullen showed me how to use a systems-based approach to create drawing sets, the importance of mockups to resolve construction questions, and how to continuously seek expertise from different sources.

Cheri Ruane, FASLA — Through our coffee chats and work together with BSLA, Cheri encouraged me to align my career with my life and to challenge the status quo.

Oprah — I’ll always remember what she said during her 2013 Harvard commencement speech: when she was stressed or overwhelmed, she had two options—eat some Oreos or take a hot shower. While I’ve taken a lot of hot showers, what stuck with me was her message about softening our experience through difficult moments. I admire her ability to bring people together across disciplines and facilitate meaningful conversations.

My mom — She’s said she might have become a landscape architect if she’d known about the profession, and she’s been my biggest source of encouragement. She’s taught me to realize my potential—and to not take life too seriously (something I’m still working on!).

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

There are so many ways to practice landscape architecture. Pay attention to how you work best—whether that’s in a quiet environment or a collaborative one, in a large team or a smaller, more focused group. Finding (or creating) a work environment that supports your natural style will help you thrive.

Every site and every project will teach you something new. Try not to get overwhelmed by that—it’s part of what makes this profession so dynamic. Lean on your interdisciplinary team and trust the process of figuring things out together.

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

Someone once said, “That which we experience with the most difficulty is what we ultimately will be most proud of.” For me, that was Riverside Plaza in Medford, MA. For that project, I served as both landscape architect and construction clerk for the City, and it was my first major experience on a construction site—facilitating conversations between clients, consultants, and contractors.

That project taught me how to navigate the complexities of construction administration, build relationships across disciplines, and bridge the gap between what’s drawn and what’s built. I learned how critical documentation is, how to think through material assemblies, and how to plan for construction phasing. It was challenging—but deeply rewarding—and even after completion, this project opened so many doors in the next few years of my career.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Every experience—whether it’s in a design firm or not—shapes your career in meaningful ways. Trust your intuition, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to take risks.

Submit a WILA profile!

2025 WILA Profiles:

Voices of Women in Landscape Architecture, Part 15