Esmeralda Rubi Carrasco, Class of 2026, is pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture at CAPLA after earning her Doctor of Business from Grand Canyon University. Inspired by her family’s garden center, Ponderosa Cactus, she’s passionate about plant-forward, community-rooted design that honors the Sonoran Desert. In addition to serving as COO of Ponderosa Cactus, Esmeralda leads as the Arizona chapter president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, sits on the Better Business Bureau board for Southern Arizona, and was named to the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024. At CAPLA, she’s brought real-world experience into the classroom, served as president of the ASLA Student Chapter, and contributed to research as a graduate assistant for Dr. Bo Yang. Her ultimate goal is to open her own landscape architecture firm grounded in sustainability, cultural relevance, and mentorship.

CAPLA researchers are leading efforts to ensure community sustainability and equitable growth in Santa Cruz County as part of a university-led, cross-disciplinary study funded by South32.

Led by faculty member Teresa Rosano, the CAPLA Study Abroad program combined classroom learning with visits to cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice. Students explored historic and modern architecture, sketched and journaled on site, and immersed themselves in Italian culture.

Annamaria Pongratz is graduating with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a minor in Art History. Reflecting on her time at CAPLA, she shared how the experience shaped her as both a designer and collaborator. This fall, she’ll continue her academic journey as a graduate student at CAPLA. One of her proudest achievements? Designing a sensory garden for a children’s museum in her planting design class—a project that reflects her creativity and care for inclusive, engaging spaces.

Housing affordability continues to be a critical issue in the United States. Meagan Ehlenz's research explores the potential for scaling shared equity homeownership (SEH) as a strategy to address Arizona’s growing housing affordability crisis.

In celebration of World Landscape Architecture Month, CAPLA and the Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects student chapter are taking over the Arizona ASLA Instagram account in April.

A Canadian and global academic leader, Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand reflects on her time in Japan and Australia, her work with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the connection between culture and design—highlighting how emotion and global perspectives influence the built environment and the classroom.

Abigail Power ‘26 B.LA recently reimagined the entry plaza of the Tucson Rodeo Grounds in LAR301, a studio led by CAPLA faculty Erik Schmahl and Kirk Dimond. Inspired by vaquero herding techniques, her design blends cultural history with ecological function through detailed plans, GIS mapping, and a physical model.

More than 40 landscape architecture students were recognized for showcasing exceptional talent and innovation during the Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Awards Gala & Expo.

Heather Whiteman Runs Him is a citizen of the Apsaalooke/Crow Nation. She is the Director of the Tribal Justice Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor at University of Arizona Rogers College of Law where she also teaches courses on tribal water rights, tribal courts, and tribal law.

Held at the University of Arizona’s ENR2 building, the 2nd Annual Southern Arizona Heat Summit brought together experts and community leaders to discuss strategies for extreme heat preparedness, featuring presentations from City of Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and other officials.

Announcing the 2025 Travel Scholarship recipients—students who will expand their architectural knowledge through study abroad, reflecting CAPLA's commitment to transformative, real-world learning.