Scott Mehaffey was nominated by the Illinois Chapter for his active engagement in cultural landscape preservation and public horticulture, as both a professional and volunteer. As landscape coordinator for the city of Chicago , he has a highly visible role as assistant to Mayor Richard Daley. His promotion of public awareness and appreciation for cultural landscape preservation were recognized by an appointment to the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. His public service activities have engaged youth and adults and promoted quality landscape design to nonprofessionals. Mehaffey earned his bachelor of arts in landscape architecture from the University of Illinois–Urbana in 1987 and his master of science in organizational leadership from Dominican University in 2003.

Rick A. Parisi, ASLA
M. Paul Friedberg and Partners LLC
New York

Rick Parisi was nominated by the New York Chapter for the excellent work he has produced in all facets of landscape architecture design—parks, plazas, waterfronts, and educational, health, and recreational facilities—in his 22 years of practice. As project manager and partner in one of the most prominent landscape architecture firms practicing today, he has led important projects around the world, ensuring quality at all levels of design and construction. Within the firm, he has mentored more than 100 students, interns, and graduate students. An active and engaged professional, he also is a frequent volunteer and participant in ASLA events and functions. Parisi earned his bachelor of science in landscape architecture from the University of Florida in 1986.

James M. Patchett, ASLA
Conservation Design Forum
Elmhurst, Illinois

James Patchett was nominated by the Illinois Chapter for his commitment to research and educational outreach. Founder and president of Conservation Design Forum, he created a visionary collaborative environment with a focus on natural resource solutions and green building. He also is cofounder and president of the Board of Conservation Research Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering applied research and educational outreach in sustainable design. A noted speaker and educator, he routinely promotes understanding of the scientific foundation of diverse green design and development strategies. Patchett earned his bachelor of science in landscape architecture in 1975, his master of landscape architecture in 1981, and his master of science in civil engineering in 1985, all from Iowa State University .

Rodney D. Robinson, ASLA
Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects Inc.
Wilmington, Delaware

Rodney Robinson was nominated by the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter for his exemplary landscape architectural design skills and his knowledge of horticulture. His impressive body of work over the past 30 years ranges from private and public gardens to exhibit design and historic restoration, and includes commissions with institutions of international reputation. He has been an active member of ASLA since 1997. He also has served as an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania , Longwood Gardens , and Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College , and lectured at numerous arboreta, botanical gardens, and universities. Robinson earned his bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Delaware in 1975 and his master of landscape architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978.

Thomas R. Ryan, ASLA
Ryan Associates
Boston

Thomas Ryan was nominated by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects chapter of ASLA for 30 years of exemplary service to the chapter and the profession. He has been a mentor to hundreds of students who have taken his review course to prepare for the licensure exam and has served as a lecturer and instructor at Harvard University and the University of Virginia . He has staunchly defended professional licensure in Massachusetts and increased the visibility of landscape architecture in housing development—all while running his successful practice. Ryan earned his bachelor of science in landscape architecture in 1975 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his master of landscape architecture in 1979 from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Robert Sabbatini, ASLA
Robert Sabbatini, AICP, ASLA
San Francisco

Robert Sabbatini was nominated by the Northern California Chapter for his 30 years of exceptional design work in campus planning, first as a principal at Sasaki Associates and now as a sole practitioner. His national success is evident in his award-winning work at the University of California–Berkeley, California State University–Monterey Bay , Lewis & Clark College , and Mills College . In addition to his design work, he has long been active in his local ASLA chapter. Sabbatini earned his bachelor of arts in environmental design/landscape architecture from the University of California–Berkeley in 1972 and his master of landscape architecture in urban design and a master of city and regional planning at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, both in 1978.

James Peter Shadley, ASLA
Shadley Associates PC
Lexington, Massachusetts

James Peter “J. P.” Shadley was nominated by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects in recognition of more than 25 years of exceptional contributions to the built environment and the profession. His extensive portfolio includes award-winning works that vary in scale and project type from historic properties to brownfield, mixed-use transit-oriented developments, and from low-income housing to significant residential estates and beautiful sculptures in the landscape. As a dedicated member of the BSLA since 1992, he has served in many roles, including chapter president and vice president. Shadley earned his bachelor of landscape architecture from the University of Oregon in 1983 and his master of landscape architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1986.

Gary Sorge, ASLA
Stantec
Hamden, Connecticut

Gary Sorge was nominated by the Connecticut Chapter for 23 years of being the “man behind the curtain,” whose vast talents and vision allow him to bring together the various players and pieces of a complex puzzle to create spaces that communities can enjoy for generations. His work graces some of the most well-visited public spaces in the world. He often has helped clients and organizations develop design guides to allow them to continue with their projects in the spirit of the original initiative. He has volunteered for numerous community efforts, from trail reconstruction projects with the Boy Scouts to river cleanup days. Sorge earned his bachelor of science in landscape architecture from Rutgers University in 1986.

Richard K. Sutton, ASLA
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Program in Landscape Architecture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska

Richard Sutton was nominated by the Great Plains Chapter for enlightening an entire generation to the beauty, history, and ecology of the Nebraska landscape. He has contributed a high level of knowledge creation and application for more than 30 years at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Recently, he spearheaded the start-up of the university’s bachelor of landscape architecture degree program. He has authored or coauthored more than three dozen research publications, popular articles, and books on a wide variety of topics pertinent to the Great Plains landscape. Sutton earned his bachelor of science in forest biology from Colorado State University in 1970, his master of landscape architecture from Utah State University in 1974, and his PhD in land resource from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1997.

Cleveland Turner III, ASLA
Turner Land Architecture LLC
Amarillo, Texas

Cleveland Turner was nominated by the Texas Chapter for giving unselfishly to the betterment of the Texas Chapter ASLA for more than 25 years. He has been dedicated to the licensure of landscape architects in Texas and at the national level. In Texas , he was the torchbearer for defending against the sunsetting of title use, and further, he used that opportunity to elevate the law to cover the practice of landscape architecture. Additionally, both the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners and the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards have benefited from his initiative, creativity, and management skills. Turner earned his bachelor of arts in 1973 and his bachelor of science in landscape architecture in 1976, both from Texas A&M University .

Susan Van Atta, ASLA
Van Atta Associates Inc.
Santa Barbara, California

Susan Van Atta was nominated by the ASLA 2009 Council of Fellows for the impressive body of work she has created with a two-decade-long commitment to environmentally appropriate landscape design, habitat restoration, and the use of native plants. Van Atta’s award-winning designs pay careful attention to form and detail, but her work transcends mere aesthetic improvements. Instead, she strives to “make places better” by regenerating the land, engaging the public in site understanding and stewardship, and promoting health for both people and the environment. Van Atta earned her bachelor of arts in environmental studies in 1977 from the University of California–Santa Barbara and her bachelor of science in landscape architecture in 1983 from California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo.