Solving Pressing Problems: Oscar Rodriguez Ponce '24 MLA, '22 BS SBE

Nine Questions with Master of Landscape Architecture Student Oscar Rodriguez Ponce

  
“The focus areas that excite me the most are those that I find the most necessary to solve pressing environmental and social problems: areas like water conservation, equitable access to green space and environmental restoration."
  

Master of Landscape Architecture student and Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Built Environments alumnus Oscar Rodriguez Ponce was born in Navajoa, Sonora, Mexico, but brew up in Nogales, Sonora. In 2017 he moved to Rio Rico, Arizona, and has lived in Arizona ever since.

What brought you to the University of Arizona to study sustainable built environments and then landscape architecture?

Being a first-generation student who had just moved to the United States, my higher education options were quite limited. However, I knew I wanted to study in Tucson since I always liked the unique charm of this city and found that the University of Arizona had the programs I was interested in. I was lucky to get scholarships before graduating from high school and have been studying at UArizona since 2018.
  

Image

 
What most excites you about the study of landscape architecture?

Landscape architecture is an extremely broad field in which fascinating research topics abound. The focus areas that excite me the most are those that I find the most necessary to solve pressing environmental and social problems. Areas like water conservation, equitable access to green space and environmental restoration have great potential to elevate the quality of life of both human and non-human communities and contribute to a more sustainable built environment and society.

What do you like most about the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture?

My favorite part of the program is being able to create meaningful relationships with the talented faculty at CAPLA. This has allowed me to participate in awesome projects alongside other students and under the guidance of our professors.
  

Image

 
What has been your biggest challenge at CAPLA?

My biggest challenge at CAPLA certainly was coming back to in-person classes after being remote for so long. There still was plenty of uncertainty regarding COVID and whether having in-person instruction was the right choice. This also happened while I enrolled in the accelerated master’s program (Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Built Environments to Master of Landscape Architecture), so getting accustomed to being at school again under such a heavy workload while finishing my undergraduate degree was quite a task.

What has been your biggest challenge outside of CAPLA, and how have you overcome that challenge?

Moving to the U.S. was quite difficult for me. Nowadays, I’m convinced this was the best decision my family and I could have made, but the first year was a challenge. My lifestyle had turned upside down in so many aspects. I suddenly had to adapt to a vastly different environment from what I was accustomed to, learn a new language pretty much on my own and adopt a suburban lifestyle. I put lots of effort into learning what I needed to know and making sure I exceled at school to raise my chances of enrolling in a university. Fortunately, all the sacrifice paid off, and part of my experience and its contrasts with Nogales have informed some of my interests in landscape architecture and sustainability.

Moving from an active city where most people rely on public transit to a suburban environment where walking wasn’t a choice gave me awareness of walkability, food deserts, lack of green space and other important urban problems that landscape architects and other design professionals can help address.
  

Image

 
Tell us about your job experience and career aspirations.

I have a diverse work experience, some of it related to landscape architecture and some of it tangentially related. I have worked in video recording and photography, and have had numerous research positions during my time at UArizona doing both research and design work on topics such as green infrastructure, urban streetscapes, nature preserves and so on, with some of these projects taking place both in Arizona and in the Mexican state of Sonora. My internship experiences include doing nursery work at the Pima County Native Plant Nursery and doing communications and outreach work at Watershed Management Group, both last summer. I currently have an internship where I work on sustainable garden designs and look forward to another internship this summer.

My ultimate career goals include becoming a licensed landscape architect, advancing the role of landscape architecture in addressing environmental and social issues, making landscape architecture a more well-known and relatable profession for all people and (possibly) opening my own firm in the future so I can focus my practice on projects I believe could generate the most social, environmental and economic value while bringing something unique to the competitive landscape of this field.

Outside of school, what are your passions?

Photography remains one of my main passions besides landscape architecture. Other than that, I’m pretty passionate about music, gaming, cooking and gardening.

If I’m not busy with my studies or working, I like to enjoy what Tucson has to offer. Be it the great places where you can take a hike, the marvelous restaurants around the city or the fun events like the Gem Show and the many awesome concerts that take place over here, there’s always something for everyone in and around Tucson.
  

Image

 
What advice do you have for incoming CAPLA students?

Keep your ultimate goals in mind as you move through the program and be open to the opportunities that will come to you. If there’s something I believe I should have done earlier during my time at CAPLA, it is getting more involved with the community. Some of my best learning experiences have come from the research assistantships and volunteer opportunities I participated in. I didn’t do any of this during my first year and much of my second year, and I would encourage prospective students to get involved in CAPLA as soon as they can.

I’d also suggest that you keep good track of your assignments, lectures, readings and anything you are exposed to in class as well as the work you produce. It’s really important to be able to go back to your work and your notes, not only to refresh your knowledge but also to assemble a good portfolio you can use for job applications.

What does the CAPLA experience mean to you?

The CAPLA experience is defined by the network you create during your time in the college. I attribute much of my success as a graduate student and CAPLA alum to the dedication that faculty put into their work. Even during hard times, they remain supportive of their students and contribute to their growth by challenging and encouraging them to do better, and also by providing great opportunities for students to get work experience.

Similarly, meeting other students who are as motivated and inspired as you makes CAPLA a great place to collaborate with others and learn from both faculty and students of all backgrounds and expertise.

Learn more about the Master of Landscape Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Built Environments and CAPLA's accelerated master's program opportunities.