Research

I am dedicated to providing the rigor offered by incorporating the scientific method more intentionally to my environmental design and teaching research.

I am interested in developing inquiry-based teaching strategies for landscape design pedagogy.  My research inquiry of design instruction is based on how and what students learn or don’t learn, what are the teaching strategies under which they learn best, and whether students can apply their knowledge confidently.

I choose design projects for my courses that advance civic engagement between the University and partners locally, statewide, and internationally.  I have completed a variety of engagement–based projects and executed numerous small–scale service learning projects, which I use in my research.

Graduate Students

My vision in my graduate program and graduate projects is to infuse the scientific method into design inquiries by incorporating the use of scientific methodologies to make and test hypothesis using accepted methods such as:

• assessment of visual perception
• observation of behavioral responses to design
• measurement of environmental impacts

These data–supported efforts have resulted in industry-recognized contributions.

Committee Chair

• 2018 – 2020 Landscape Design, Implementation and Management of Seven University’s Landscapes through the Lens of Visual Perception; Dallas Bretzman,
• 2015 – 2016 An Evaluation of Site Conditions, Maintenance Costs and Plant Performance on Extensive Green Roofs; Wenyan Fu
• 2012 – 2014 Small Urban Green Spaces; Junyan Zhou
• 2011 – 2013 Sustainable Residential Design; Xiaolin Huang
• 2011– 2013 Quality of the Streetscape; Bioafei Jiang

Committee Member

• 2015 – 2017  Environment and Ecology (UNC), Anthony Mayer, PhD
• 2013 – 2015  Restorative Landscape Design for Soldiers in Transition, Amy Borsay, MHS
• 2011 – 2013 Rooting Permaculture in Community Gardens: A Systems-Based Approach to Engaged Design, Abbey Pinner, MHS 
• 2011 – 2013 Participatory Design of a Children’s Garden: How To Solicit and Incorporate Public Participation in the Design Process, Dana Reynolds, MHS 
• 2010 – 2012 Design Matters in Community Gardens: A Spatial Analysis of Ten Community Gardens, Caroline Tilley Asher, MLA 
• 2009 – 2011 Container Gardening with Edibles, Kimberly Anne Richter, MHS
• 2009 – 2011 Urban Agriculture in the Sky: Productive Rooftop Garden Benefits, Design Guidelines and Potential Development in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mary Hendrika Archer, MHS
• 2008 – 2010 Health Care Landscapes, Mary Anne Bifulco, MLA
• 2005 – 2007 Historic Preservation of Designed Landscapes on College Campuses, Molly Rennebohm Wood, MLA