For creating significant new knowledge advancing landscape architecture, and for the communication of knowledge to others with exceptional effect, Jon Rodiek, a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University, was elevated as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The presentation was made at the ASLA’s 2002 national convention.

The honor is awarded by the ASLA to landscape architects recognized by their peers as having accomplished extraordinary work for a significant amount of time in one of four categories: works of landscape architecture, administrative work, knowledge or service to the profession.

For 29 years, Rodiek has been dedicated to the continued improvement of the discipline of landscape architecture. He has said best way to develop the discipline is to bring relevant scientific information into the arena where design decisions are made. He advocates linking research to practice as a means of improving the human-made landscape.

He is known for his precedent-setting work in developing design and planning techniques for mined land reclamation, wildlife habitat protection, wetland identification and arid land planning. He is a sought after authority on wetland classification and interpretation, wildlife habitat assessment and evaluation and landscape assessment and evaluation. His writings on these topics have been presented at national conferences around the world.

Throughout his career, he has authored over 29 major manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and has served for several years as editor of Landscape and Urban Planning, an international journal of landscape ecology, landscape planning, and landscape design. The journal is based on the premise that research linked to practice will ultimately improve the human made landscape. Last year alone, the journal received more than 69,000 download requests or articles.

Widely recognized as a leader in his field, Rodiek has earned several professional and academic accolades. In 2001, he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Massachusetts where, between 1967 and 1974, he earned four degrees: Ph.D., M.S., M.LA. and B.L.A. In June 2000, he earned the Award of Distinction from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. He received a Distinguished Achievement Award in teaching from Texas A&M in 1996, a National Team Leadership Award from the Professional Division of the American Association of University Administrators in 1990, and a U.S. Forest Service Certificate of Merit in 1976.

To students and faculty who have worked with Rodiek, his ASLA Fellowship comes as no surprise.

“We are very proud of Dr. Jon Rodiek. Having the ASLA recognize his career as exceptional, underscores the commitment and dedication that he exhibits daily in his projects, the classroom and studio,” said George Rogers, who was head of the LA+UP department when Rodiek received the honor. “It, also, reflects an important recognition of his long-term commitment to the profession associated with editing the international journal of Landscape and Urban Planning. This recognition is well deserved.”

A scholarship was established in 1998 by Rodiek and paid for by the real-world projects undertaken by his undergraduate landscape design studios. Two years ago, the BLA Senior Design Award Endowment became fully funded.

Rodiek earned a doctorate in natural resource planning from the University of Massachusetts in 1974, the same year he launched his academic profession at the University of Arizona. He later served as department head at Texas Tech University before joining the Texas A&M faculty in 1990.

Prior to pursuing his doctorate degree, he worked as a landscape architect, from 1968 to 1971, for the Architect’s Collaborative. He launched his professional practice in the summer of 1965 as an entry-level landscape architect for George Washington National Forest in Harrisonburg, Va.

Rodiek’s areas of interest include wildlife habitat planning, planting design, landscape resource management and site planning.