Liza Holtz
Degree: MLArch
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
Previous Degree: BS, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
I’m From: Portland, OR
Why I Came to the UO and How I Chose My Major
I chose the UO’s Master of Landscape Architecture program because its mission and values align with my academic and professional goals and personal interests. The program enables me to gain the skills and confidence required to be an effective agent of change in this next generation in the field of landscape architecture. I am very familiar and passionate about our local ecology and I am especially drawn to the program’s focus on ecological design in the Willamette Valley. The strong community of faculty and staff, current students, and alumni initially drew me to the program and continues to remind me that I am with like-minded people who support and challenge each other.
I want to be a landscape architect because the field exists at the intersection of my passions: science, nature, and art. I like the field’s multidisciplinary nature and its relevance to the pressing issues of urbanization, climate change, sustainability, and social justice. As the human population continues to grow, development is inevitable and how we choose to develop is critical. I want to participate in development plans and create landscapes that are beautiful, sustainable and ecologically minded. I look forward to being part of the next generation of landscape architects who are effective agents for change.
Unique Qualities I Bring to My Studies
I spent the vast majority of my childhood years outside. Perhaps I have a natural inclination. Perhaps it was to escape the disarray of my childhood home, a worn Victorian farmhouse with an overgrown garden, which my parents were restoring at a snail’s pace. Perhaps I craved the quiet and calming effect after being overwhelmed by the atmosphere at school. Regardless of the cause, I immersed my senses in nature, observed its infinite wonders, and grew an abiding respect for humankind’s modest place in the planet’s ecosystems. I would collect specimens that piqued my interest to inspect under my great-grandfather’s microscope and began to create art inspired by the beauty and brilliance of the colors, shapes, lines, textures, and patterns I observed in the biotic and abiotic realms. My inherent curiosity and fascination with the natural world was reinforced by my choices in education. I learned to understand the patterns and systems I observed through science. After college, I taught a range of environmental education programs, for children from preschool through high school, and worked in botany, researching the plant ecology for conservation and restoration in the West. Before starting graduate school, I worked in New Zealand as an organic farmer and beekeeper. I am grateful for the diversity of experiences I have had in my 29 years.
My Influential Professors
Chris Enright has been an incredible teacher, mentor, and friend to me as I have embarked on this academic journey. I met her at the very beginning of my graduate studies, as she taught our summer courses. Chris is very knowledgeable and passionate about landscape architecture and the Willamette Valley. She has strong communication and listening skills, is over-prepared and organized for each class session, and employs many teaching strategies to reach different learning styles. She has a strong work ethic and practices self-reflection. She is friendly and approachable, kind and patient, supportive and challenging. But what sets her apart, is the classroom community she consciously builds. Students feel safe so that they can experiment, ask any question that comes to mind, and gain the skills and confidence required to be part of the next generation of landscape architects who are effective agents for change. She cares deeply for each student, takes the time to build a relationship with them, and sets high yet reachable expectations for each individual.
My Extracurricular Activities
I was elected secretary of the UO Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) last year. This was an excellent opportunity to engage with students, faculty and staff, and the greater professional community. I also play recreational soccer in the Eugene City League. This has been a great way to get to know the greater Eugene community outside of the UO.
My Greatest Learning Experience at UO
Coming from the sciences, I had to adapt my learning style and work process for this design program. I have reconnected with the creative part of my brain and learned the process of design iteration and absorbing criticism at reviews. Like life, there are many different solutions to a problem and paths to take in the field of landscape architecture. I am proud of my personal growth in the past two years and am excited to continue to witness this in the rest of the program and on into the professional field.
After Graduation
Although my future plans may shift and evolve over time, there are four cornerstones that I consistently build my vision upon. First, I want to constantly challenge myself. I have always felt a powerful urge to learn and better understand the world around me. I love to read, go to lectures, watch documentaries, and converse with others because there is always more information to absorb. Second, I want to explore. I am at my best when travelling to new places and having new experiences. Third, I want to build a strong and positive community. We are social creatures and I am fulfilled when I am surrounded by others who support one another and share common interests and goals. And finally, I want my actions to have a positive effect in the community and world around me. As the human population continues to grow, development is inevitable and how we choose to develop is critical. I want to participate in development plans and create landscapes that are beautiful, sustainable and ecologically focused. In this program, I am developing the necessary skills because I have an incredible opportunity to collaborate with peers, faculty, and community members. I look forward to being part of the next generation of landscape architects who are effective agents for change.
Your Gift
This scholarship allows me greater opportunity to create meaningful landscapes that are both socially sensitive and ecologically responsible and focus on my academic pursuits in landscape architecture.
Thank you for investing in the future and the opportunity for women to participate in the important field of landscape architecture in the time of climate change. As a native Oregonian, I feel a strong sense of stewardship towards our native plants and ecosystems.