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WASLA Board of Directors
President
Mike Faulkner, ASLA
President Elect
Rachel Gleeson, ASLA
Trustee
Tim Slazinik, ASLA
Treasurer
Su Wanqin, ASLA
Member at Large
Cresha Wee, ASLA
Member at Large, Eastern WA
Dan Cronan, ASLA
Member at Large, Western WA
Rhiannon Neuville, ASLA
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Hello WASLA Members,
Happy New Year!
The WASLA Board recently met in person to kick off 2026, align on priorities, and begin planning a full slate of events. We were also glad to see a strong turnout for Dark Light Design’s lighting tour of the Seattle Waterfront.
Looking ahead, we’ve got a lot in the works: Happy Hours, the Annual Conference, Field Day, and the WASLA Awards. We’re excited to reconnect with many of you in the months ahead.
Reflecting back on 2025, we hit several meaningful milestones as a chapter. We updated WASLA’s strategic plan, celebrated outstanding work at our Annual Awards Ceremony, hosted our first-ever Field Day to highlight the completion of the Seattle Waterfront, and connected with other chapters and national leadership at the National Conference.
Our Call for Educational Session Proposals is now open for the 2026 WASLA Conference, which will take place May 7–8 at the Tacoma Marriott Downtown. We’re also thrilled to announce two keynote speakers who are respected environmental leaders, admired for their dedication and meaningful impact both locally and nationally.
- David Troutt, Natural Resources Director for the Nisqually Indian Tribe, has been a leading voice in salmon habitat restoration, watershed management, and tribal natural resource stewardship across the Pacific Northwest.
- Jonathon Kusa, Principal at Inter-Fluve, brings decades of expertise in river restoration and climate-resilient design, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration to restore ecological function across complex landscapes.
We’re proud to host these voices at the conference and hope you’ll consider submitting a session proposal to help shape an engaging program.
Here’s to another great year of learning, celebrating, and advocating for the land that connects us all.
Mike Faulkner
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2026 WASLA Annual Conference Call for Educational Session Proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference
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The Washington Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (WASLA) is issuing a Call for Educational Session Proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference, themed Reclaim.
The conference will be held May 7 & 8, 2026 at the Tacoma Marriott Downtown.
RECLAIM invites us to look closely at the landscapes shaped by industry, time, and change—and to consider how they can be revived, restored, and reimagined for the public good. Tacoma’s evolution from working waterfronts and rail corridors into beloved parks, restored shorelines, and cultural landscapes illustrates the power of design to reconnect people with place. As landscape architects, we accept the responsibility to heal damaged land, elevate local stories, and transform forgotten edges into meaningful public spaces. RECLAIM calls us to this ongoing work, celebrating the creativity and commitment that shape more resilient communities.
We are seeking energized speakers in a variety of formats:
- Panel discussions with moderators
- Roundtables
- Presentations/lectures with Q&A
- Design conversations
- Walking tours* (subject to feasibility)
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Submissions:
Session Details:
- Length: 60 minutes (50 minutes presentation/workshop + 10 minutes Q&A)
- Audience: Approximately 200 engaged attendees
2026 Conference Theme: Reclaim
Building on Tacoma’s example, this year’s theme encourages proposals that explore:
- Techniques for restoring ecological health and repairing impacted land
- Adaptive reuse that honors history while creating vibrant new uses
- Approaches that foster stewardship, equity, and lasting community connections
Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES):
WASLA is an approved LA CES provider. We will assist presenters in meeting LA CES requirements and registering sessions on the national database.
Conference Registration for Presenters:
All presenters must register for the conference as either "speaker only" (free) or full-conference attendees. Lead presenters will receive further instructions upon selection.
Questions?
Contact us at [email protected] or 360.867.8820.
We look forward to receiving your proposals!
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Early Bird Conference Registration is Open!
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Early bird registration is now open!!! We can't wait to have you join us for this amazing conference!
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Interested in the Student + Emerging Professionals committee?
Come to the WASLA Happy Hour on February 4th at Stoup Brewing, Capitol Hill.
Time: 5:30 pm - 7 pm
Location: 1158 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
Everyone is welcome!!!! We can't wait to see you!
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WASLA 2026-2027 Scholarships
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Due: Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 by 5:00pm
Application form: https://forms.gle/obwBci6455jeVNaR9
WASLA Academic Scholarships will be awarded to UW and WSU students that are enrolled in the 2026-27 academic year. One $3,000.00 scholarship per university will be awarded.
INSTRUCTIONS At the end of the online application, please submit a PDF of your 500-word essay in response to the following prompt: What most excites you about landscape architecture? Describe a studio project, landscape or experience that has shaped your professional goals. How did it change the way you think about the profession?
IMPORTANT DATES Applications must be received by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026. WASLA will announce the recipients in March.
ELIGIBILITY Previous WASLA Academic Scholarship recipients are not eligible. Students must be enrolled in the 2026-2027 academic school year to be eligible. Seniors and graduate students that will graduate in 2026 are NOT eligible. Applicants must be ASLA and WASLA student members. Sign up for a membership (it’s free!) at ASLA.org.
Questions? Please email info@wasla.org
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WASLA Board of Directors Meeting
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Mike Faulkner, Tim Slazinik, Rhiannon Neuville, Dan Cronan (on screen), Cresha Wee, Wanqin Su and Rachel Gleeson.
It's always a good time when the board can meet in person, well mostly. Dan Cronan, our Eastern Member at Large joined us online from Pullman, Washington.
Interested in joining the board or volunteering for a committee?
Email [email protected] for more information!
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Join The Cultural Landscape Foundation on Thursday, February 19 for an exciting virtual program: Oberlander Prize Forum. Hear from one of the world’s leading landscape architects, Mario Schjetnan, most recent winner of the Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize. On February 19, during the first of a series of free, virtual Oberlander Prize Forums, the Mexico City-based Schjetnan, who has worked on major projects throughout Mexico and Latin America, will be in conversation with the landscape architects Elizabeth Mossop, Oberlander Prize Curator, and Claire Agre, Oberlander Prize Jury Chair, discussing how his design philosophy and concepts interweave nature and culture and are committed to design excellence.
The free webinar will take place over Zoom from 4:00—5:15 pm ET. Read the full description of the program and register now!
Oberlander Prize Forum with Mario Schjetnan, Jury Chair Claire Agre and Curator Elizabeth Mossop | TCLF
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Members now have access to free monthly PDH live webinars and recordings via ASLA Online Learning. | Read More
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A very warm welcome to our new and renewing WASLA Members:
Abby Smith | Amanda Bailey | Brigitte Young | Chih-Ping Chen | Colette Shore | Ian Thorsteinson | Jonathan Morley | Lia Mclauchlin | Lily MacKrell | Marieke Lacasse | Odessa Cook | Sarah Wallace | Sofia Buchler | Thu Le | Wyatt Thompson
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Interested in becoming a member?
Learn more about benefits of membership.
Join today!
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Looking for the perfect job candidate?
Did you know that you can create a new job listing online on the WASLA website?
All job postings appear on the WASLA website AND are included in WASLA's monthly newsletter that goes out to over 2,000 subscribers!
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Click here to view all upcoming WASLA and affiliate events.
Do you have an upcoming event or continuing education opportunity you'd like to share? Click here to share.
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