Professor Caroline Lavoie to Receive Top Honor from Landscape Architecture Organization

Professor Caroline Lavoie, of Utah State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, has been named to the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture’s 2025 Class of Fellows.

The designation recognizes her nearly three decades of exceptional contributions to teaching, research and service in the field of landscape architecture education and represents the highest achievement among CELA members.

Lavoie is a prolific scholar and artist, blending her expertise in design with creative expression. Her portfolio includes more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, 18 national and international art exhibitions, and numerous research grants.

Her most recent solo exhibition, Crossing Borders: The Landscapes and Communities of Highway 89, drew more than 4,000 visitors at the Livingston (Montana) Depot Museum, showcasing her unique ability to communicate the essence of “place” through art. Some of Lavoie’s distinctive drawings from the project can be seen on the Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation’s website.

"I draw inspiration from the moments shaped by movement, light, wind, color, texture, and the framing of a scene,” Lavoie said. “I’m especially moved by how people engage with my work, particularly my drawings in exhibitions. When people leave their thoughts or interpretations, it helps me deepen my own understanding of landscapes and my connection to them. Nothing exists in isolation — it’s all about the relationships formed while drawing, experiencing a place, designing or planning for a space, a city, a region and then communicating that. It's these interactions, and the resonance they create, that matter most. It’s all about process, respect and learning from each other.”

Lavoie has made notable contributions to landscape architecture through her innovative teaching, creative research and commitment to service. At USU, she has designed and taught more than 15 courses, including study-abroad programs to Germany, France and Italy. Her dedication has inspired thousands of students, many of whom have gone on to receive awards in national and state design competitions.

As a Fulbright Specialist, she facilitated an urban design studio project with students and faculty from the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction in the fall of 2024. She also spent a sabbatical in India in 2020, coordinating a project with students and faculty from BNCA College of Architecture in Pune.

She has served as a peer reviewer for national and international journals, participated as a juror for design competitions and led students in collaborations with communities and municipalities on impactful design projects. Her leadership in study-abroad programs and her work in fostering dialogue through art and design have enriched the profession of landscape architecture globally.

The CELA Fellow distinction honors educators who have made a lasting impact on the field.

“Professor Lavoie exemplifies excellence in education, research, and mentorship,” said one of her nominators. “Her work reconnects people with their landscapes, emphasizing the vital relationship between communities and their environment.”