What were you doing before you applied to the Conway School?
Before CSLD I was working for a non-profit that focused on community work projects building benches, murals, and community gardens. I also worked construction to pay the bills.
What brought you to Conway?
I was drawn to CSLD because I knew I wanted to enter the A/E industry after college. With a strong interest in natural and social sciences as well as the arts, I was particularly inspired by my work at the City Repair Project, the nonprofit I mentioned earlier. There, I saw firsthand how designers used design as a powerful problem-solving tool. I wanted to think like them, communicate ideas effectively, and develop thoughtful design solutions. CSLD offered an intensive year of design education, which felt like the perfect opportunity to gain those skills. I was also familiar with CSLD’s design process—goal articulation, site assessment and analysis, concept development, and iterative refinement based on client feedback—which intuitively resonated with me.
How did you first learn about Conway?
I learned about CSLD because my mentor, Michael Singer encouraged me to look into the school as an alternative to UMass, Amherst. I found out that a year at CSLD counted as a year at UMass’ MLA program, so it seemed like a no brainer.
Imagine we just met, and recognized we had common interests. How would you describe Conway to me?
CSLD is an intensive program that will sharpen your strategic thinking, helping to identify what truly matters and uncover the deeper implications of complex problems. By doing so, you’ll learn to develop innovative, alternative approaches to address them. The program strengthens analytical and writing skills—because no design is complete without a compelling written narrative—while also fostering creativity. CSLD attracts individuals who are driven to make meaningful, positive impacts on both society and the environment.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in the field?
My advice for anyone entering the field is to take the time to deeply reflect on your personal values and explore how they can be translated into meaningful, serviceable work. Ask yourself: What is the demand for what you want to offer? Who is looking to hire someone with the skills and ideas you are passionate about advancing? Understanding how to bring your work to market is one of the most challenging yet crucial aspects of long-term success in the landscape architecture [and planning] industry.
Additionally, as I learned at CSLD, goals matter. They serve as a compass, guiding you toward where you want to be in one year, five years, and beyond. I make it a practice to evaluate my goals annually, ensuring that my career path remains both sustainable and fulfilling. I highly recommend this kind of self-assessment to everyone—it’s a powerful tool for staying aligned with your aspirations.
What are you doing right now, and what do you love about it?
I am the Managing Landscape Architect at MJ Engineering, a multidisciplinary engineering firm serving the Capital Region of New York. I lead the landscape architecture team, guiding its growth by expanding skill sets and pursuing new project opportunities. As a project manager, I oversee teams that typically include civil and structural engineers as well as landscape designers.
Much of my work involves managing public projects for various New York State agencies, including OPRHP, OMH, SUNY/SUCF, and DOCCS, as well as working for local government agencies and municipalities. My projects span the state—from Buffalo to Montauk—with some out-of-state work as well. They include waterfronts, recreational spaces, restoration projects, multi-use paths, and campus plazas.
As a landscape architect, my primary role is to balance the engineers’ quantitative analysis with the qualitative, experiential aspects that shape how people interact with a place. That said, my favorite parts of the job remain 3D modeling and rendering, hand drawing (yes, hand drawing is alive and well in the professional world), and working closely with clients to develop compelling design concepts.
What is your favorite tool? E.g., a type of gardening tool, digital tool, etc.
My favorite tool is probably the hori hori. It’s like a garden scalpel and every time I use mine I discover new things in my garden. My second favorite is the pry bar. There’s nothing better than finding and exploiting a fulcrum.
Which aspects of your Conway education do you use in your current work? Which aspects do you used to address urgent challenges related to climate change, environmental justice, etc.?
CSLD taught me the power of goal setting and the importance of regularly reevaluating goals to measure progress and refine my path. This mindset has been invaluable not only in my professional role but also in my life as a whole. The process of articulating a goal—followed by the hard, unfiltered feedback loop of assessing success or understanding failure—has been crucial in helping me overcome long odds to become a licensed landscape architect and develop genuine expertise in the field.
Beyond my career, goal setting has made me a better human, partner, and parent—it’s a practice that extends far beyond professional success.
As for design skills, CSLD rekindled my passion for drawing. Drawing is both seeing and imagining, and while the industry continues to shift toward photorealistic renderings, the ability to quickly sketch a concept during a conversation remains an incredibly powerful tool.