Increasing transparency, leadership, and representation in landscape architecture: Eight women recognized as WxLA 2022 Scholars

The WxLA is an advocacy group/initiative that focuses on gender justice within landscape architecture. Founded by Rebecca Leonard, Gina Ford, Cinda Gilliland, Steven Spears, and Jamie Maslyn Larson in 2018, the group "raises awareness for the challenges that prevent womxn from reaching their highest potential." In addition, the organization "provides information about the barriers to womxn and strategies for change and celebrate new models of working."

Since 2019 the WxLA has awarded scholarships to 27 women in landscape architecture. In 2022, eight landscape architects and designers were awarded scholarships. To become eligible for the award, nominees and applicants must be "early to mid-career (in first ten years of practice) who do not have access or support to attend the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture. The scholarship intends to promote gender justice and help level the playing field for designers of underrepresented genders in the profession. As such, preference will be given to non-cis males, including cis women, trans women, trans men, and non-binary people." 

Meet this year's scholarship winners below.

• Magdalena A. Aravena of Studio Siembra (Denver, Colorado)
• Isra Fakhruddin of Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects (Chicago, Illinois) 
• Tristan Fields of Land Meets Water (Seattle, Washington) 
• Joni Hammons of Center for Planning Excellence (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) 
• Sandy Meulners of Mend Collaborative (Minneapolis, Minnesota) 
• Lys Divine Ndemeye of the Black + Indigenous Design Collective (Vancouver, British Columbia) 
• Breanna Robles of Studio Zewde (New York, New York) 
• Wanqin Su of Core Design Inc. (Seattle, Washington)

This year's jury consisted of Patricia Algara, Steven Chavez, Maggie Hansen, Kendra Hyson, Marc Miller, and Sandra Nam Cioffi. According to the WxLA, nearly $27,000 was raised for this scholarship year. 

Learn more about the WxLA and its efforts to increase transparency, leadership initiatives, mentorship, and representation for womxn here. Learn more about past WxLA Scholars here.