CAPLA Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand Receives University of Guelph Alumni of Honour Award

University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand has been named a recipient of the University of Guelph Alumni of Honour Award, which recognizes graduates who bring distinction to their alma mater through professional, community, and personal achievements.

For Pollock-Ellwand, the recognition is deeply personal.

“Much of my life has been rooted in the University of Guelph. I completed my undergraduate degree there, taught for 17 years, and raised my family in that community. To get an award such as this means a great deal to me personally,” she said.

She will formally receive the award at a ceremony at the University of Guelph on October 24.

A Former Student’s Perspective

The nomination came from a group of former students led by Andrew Anderson, founding principal and senior landscape architecture and heritage advisor at Anderson Heritage Consultants.

“Nancy has garnered an extraordinary worldwide reputation for her cultural heritage conservation work. The mere mention of her name makes people smile. I wanted to make sure she receives the same recognition for her truly trail-blazing work at home,” Anderson said.

Anderson remembers Pollock-Ellwand teaching his first landscape architecture course over 30 years ago—and still referencing his dog-eared copy of the course manual. He recalls her introduction to the cultural heritage of Ancient Egypt, which resonates today in his work on a conservation master plan for the region, a major cultural landscape anchored by the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. 

“Nancy opened my eyes to the world and the potential for combining a love of design and discovery with the celebration and conservation of cultural heritage that binds humanity together,” he said. 

He said their paths would cross periodically over the years, and eventually he would follow in her footsteps by becoming a sessional instructor at the University of Guelph. 

He also highlighted her impact on his own career. 

“She was the one who inspired me – mid-career – to move to Ireland and pursue my UNESCO Master of Science in World Heritage Management from University College Dublin. That decision fundamentally changed the course of my career, and drew my professional activities closer into Nancy’s orbit,” he said. 

Anderson also highlighted her impact on him personally, which stemmed from the tight-knit community the small cohort of students formed with their professors. 

“I remember vividly when Nancy would bring her young daughters into the studio – and it was so inspiring to see how Nancy was able to balance the challenges of parenthood, academic pursuits and a teaching career,” he said. 

He added: “She is proof that one can excel at the highest levels of professionalism while celebrating relationships and enjoying the many small joys in everyday life.”

Teaching as a Lifelong Passion

For Pollock-Ellwand, the fact that her former students nominated her carries special meaning.

“Teaching has been one of the best parts of my job. To have students nominate me is incredibly special. I’ve been fortunate to see them grow into inspiring professionals, and that’s been very rewarding as an educator,” she said.

Reflecting on the broader impact, she added:

“Recognition like this says something about the caliber of our faculty and students. It also shows that one can have a fruitful career in the built environment, both as an educator and a practitioner, and be inspired to make a difference.”

Pollock-Ellwand is a registered landscape architect in Canada, a fellow of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. 

She has been involved with UNESCO’s cultural agency, ICOMOS, across a number of roles. She served as co-chair of the ICOMOS evaluation panels for new World Heritage nominations and has participated in advisory missions to state parties considering new nominations. This work involves providing input to international policy on cultural landscape protection, as well as reviews for the World Monuments Fund, and now as a volunteer on the Advisory Committee to the ICOMOS Board. 

Looking back, she sees the Alumni of Honour Award as an opportunity for reflection. 

“This award has given me an opportunity to reflect on the place where my career began and to be so appreciative of what I received from the University of Guelph,” she said.