Student, Faculty & Alumni Profiles

Olivia Hernandez, a Bachelor of Architecture student at the University of Arizona, discusses her academic journey, emphasizing the family-like studio culture and supportive professors at CAPLA. Her advice for prospective CAPLA students is to connect with current students for valuable insights.

Cylan Shaffer is the recruitment coordinator at CAPLA, helping students discover the unique opportunities within our college. His passion for guiding students ensures they make informed decisions and find inspiration for their academic journey.

Bachelor of Architecture student Carter Roth narrates his transformative journey from small-town Iowa to Tucson, highlighting CAPLA's inclusive culture and immersive studio experience, as well as his dedication to shaping a meaningful architectural future.

Bachelor of Architecture student Jack Schulman began an enriching journey at CAPLA, drawing inspiration from fostering sustainable urban environments. Recently, he proudly became a part of the 2023 UArizona Homecoming Court, highlighting his commitment to both campus and community life.

Garrett Smith serves as a CAPLA lecturer in both Sustainable Built Environments and Landscape Architecture. His research focuses on how recreation affects people, the environment and those responsible for managing it.

Master of Science in Urban Planning student Tiara Stephen came to Tucson from Brooklyn to explore the Desert Southwest and work at the University of Arizona. Not long after, she joined the MSUP program, furthering her passions for affordable housing and community access.

Brendan Sullivan Shea joined CAPLA this fall as a visiting professor of architecture. His research, creative work and teaching focus on digital fabrication and desertification, while his advice to students is simple: if you can, travel.

Noémie Despland-Lichtert joined CAPLA this fall as our second Emerging Faculty Fellow. An accomplished teacher, researcher and practitioner, she spent the last year in Brussels and has also worked at Taliesin West, the Canadian Centre for Architecture and the Architecture Department of Getty Research Institute, among others.

Assistant Professor Atticus Jaramillo joined the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture this fall. His research focuses on housing and community development planning, with a particular focus on the housing-health connection.

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.

Ally Pearl Kwan came to UArizona from Cypress, California, choosing the B.Arch program because of the studio spaces and world-class Materials Labs. At CAPLA, Ally has become a student leader, joining the American Institute of Architecture Students Arizona chapter, where she was president and awarded the 2021 Chapter Leader Honor Award by the AIAS.

Ibeth Martinez came to UArizona from Guayaquil, Ecuador, where she studied architecture as an undergraduate student. She came to CAPLA to pursue the Master of Science in Architecture because of its research focus flexibility and the fact that it offers both studio and research courses.