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Dear Fellow Landscape Architecture Professionals,
I am truly honored to address you as your newly installed Maryland Chapter President. Yes, I might be the youngest to hold this position—I believe Brian Reetz previously held that title, so it’s only fitting that I, his Design Collective protégé, carry on that tradition. You might be thinking, “This guy looks too young to be our president!” While that may be true, I hope those who know me can attest to my love for landscape architecture and this profession. And rest assured, I have a wealth of advisors guiding me along the way (more on that later).
This being my first letter, it’s a bit longer than usual, so please bear with me—I have a lot to share!
A bit of background on me: I earned my BLA from the University of Maryland, where I served as Vice President and later President of the Student ASLA Chapter. During that time, we set a new standard for fundraising to send as many students as possible to the annual LABash conference. (Speaking of which, Giving Tuesday is on December 3rd—please consider contributing to support our students!) After graduating in Spring 2019, I immediately stepped into the role of Junior Professional Representative (JPR) on the Maryland Chapter’s Executive Committee. I was eager to stay involved with ASLA, not only because the chapter covered the JPR membership dues (a welcome bonus!) but because of its inclusive support and sense of community. At UMD, I discovered that landscape architects are some of the friendliest—and dare I say, smartest—people you’ll ever meet. Many of my former classmates have become my closest friends. As our past Trustee Om Khurjekar aptly put it, “You make some of your best friends in ASLA,” and he couldn’t be more right.
As JPR, I was asked to chair the Emerging Professionals Committee and tasked with transitioning our chapter’s annual LARE workshop into a virtual study group. This shift coincided with the onset of COVID, which accelerated the platform’s growth. Thanks to the dedication of several aspiring landscape architects and some guidance from experienced L.A.R.E. passers like Tony Kostreski and Rachel Katzman, the Maryland ASLA Study Group was born. I’m proud to share that many of us, myself included, are now licensed landscape architects. For more details on the group, check out the Emerging Professionals Committee report from last year’s Embark VIII.
Since then, I’ve served as Secretary of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Public Awareness Committee, promoting our programs to both landscape architects and the broader public. After some encouragement from fellow board members (thank you, Om), I ran unopposed for President-Elect and, to no one’s surprise, won! I am fortunate to have the support of past presidents Joe Ignatius and Sarah Trautvetter. Joe navigated the chapter through the challenges of the COVID pandemic, while Sarah stepped into the presidency with incredible energy, launching the Climate Action Challenge, which was showcased at this year’s national ASLA conference in Washington, D.C. (look out for more details in the upcoming Embark IX). Sarah’s wisdom is invaluable and I’m thankful to have her as our Immediate Past President.
Before I close, I want to revisit something I mentioned earlier: inclusivity.
At the ASLA conference, I attended an inspiring session on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Several ASLA chapters shared their initiatives to promote DEI, including their efforts to engage with K-12 education and diversify the future pipeline of landscape architects. These programs are excellent, yet I still felt the weight of the challenge ahead: how can I—a straight, white, blonde-haired, blue-eyed male—make a meaningful impact in promoting DEI? The answer is simple: it starts with myself and with all of us. ASLA has made strides, from the historic leadership of SuLin Kotowicz—the first woman of color to serve as ASLA National President—to initiatives like the rebranded License Advancement Program, which broadens its support to all underrepresented aspiring professionals.
I commit to using my position and privilege to advocate for DEI within our chapter. During our recent Strategic Planning Summit, we agreed to introduce a DEI Advisory Committee to explore how we can better embed these values into our chapter’s initiatives. If you’re interested in joining that committee, please reach out. We’ve already made progress, but we’re just getting started:
In September, we partnered with Danielle Bilot and the Baltimore City Department of Planning for PARK(ing) Day, transforming two Baltimore school parking lots into “parks” for a day with outdoor play and learning while introducing the students to landscape architecture. I’m confident we planted seeds for future designers, engineers, and landscape architects. Many thanks to FORM Garden Design, Site Resources, and Design Collective for volunteering their time to represent our profession!
We recently collaborated with Mahan Rykiel Associates to introduce the Diversity in Landscape Architecture Scholarship, aimed at supporting underrepresented students pursuing a degree in landscape architecture. A special thank you to our Treasurer, Michael Humes, for helping make this initiative possible. We’re excited to announce that applications for all our scholarships and fellowship are now open and due by December 20th!
Looking ahead, we’re preparing a LARE fundraiser that aims to support young professionals who face the financial burden of the L.A.R.E. exam, which can cost over $2,000. Our goal is to launch this initiative at this year’s holiday party.
Additionally, we are forming a task force to revise our Chapter By-Laws, incorporating our updated mission statement and expanding the definition of what it means to be a “landscape architecture professional.” Our goal is to make roles like the Public Practice Representative—a position largely underrepresented on the Executive Board—more open and inclusive. Stay tuned for more updates on this effort.
I never want anyone to feel that our chapter is difficult to engage with or that it’s hard to get involved. We’re always seeking volunteers to help fulfill our mission. Our monthly Executive Board meetings are open to all members, both in-person and virtually. If you’d like to attend, please let me or our Executive Director, Lauren Hill, know in advance. Also, with the help of our President-Elect Patrick Whealton and Secretary Paul Jester, we will soon begin publishing our meeting minutes on the website, making our discussions accessible to all members.
ASLA is a welcoming organization, offering countless opportunities to contribute. Every hand makes a difference, and the more of us who get involved, the easier the work becomes. As Past-President and Trustee Dennis Nola, FASLA would say, “Together, we can be more”.
Thank you for this incredible opportunity to serve our chapter and this profession. I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming holiday party, where we will also celebrate our Fellows, including the 2024 inductees Grace E. Fielder, FASLA, and Chris Schein, FASLA. Early bird end this week, so be sure to get your tickets!
Last but certainly not least, I want to extend my gratitude to our newly installed Executive Board members for their commitment and dedication. None of the initiatives I’ve outlined would be possible without their leadership. Together, let’s continue to empower and uplift our fellow professionals.
Warm Regards,
Michael Pullano, PLA, ASLA
President, ASLA Maryland
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