CALS Influence Stories

As the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design at Mississippi State University celebrates its 60th anniversary, the milestone highlights the program’s deep history and its continued influence on students, alumni and the profession. Since 1965, the department has combined academic rigor with hands-on experience, preparing students to design, build and manage landscapes that serve communities across Mississippi and beyond.

For Dr. Anne Spafford, professor and head of the department, the anniversary offers a chance to honor the program’s legacy.

“It is a time to celebrate our long-standing, excellent program and the impactful work our alumni have had on the industry and the communities in which people live,” Spafford said.

She noted that the program’s reach is clear in the businesses, municipalities, and organizations where alumni now live and work—and in the way they return to MSU to support future generations.

“We have strong ties to our alumni who are actively engaged in our program,” Spafford said. “Many contribute monetary gifts that fund scholarships, travel, classroom renovations, studio equipment, and other supplies. Others return to campus to give lectures or lead ‘lunch and learn’ sessions. Each fall and spring, around 30 companies, most alumni-led, attend our Interview Days to recruit students. The contributions go a long way in creating memorable and engaging experiences for our students.”

That connection between alumni and students has been central to the department’s strength and success for six decades. Spafford added that alumni often remember their professors as more than just instructors.

“Alumni loved their education here, in large part, because of their professors—not just for their expertise, but for the level of care they showed the students,” Spafford said.

The department’s path from its origins to the present reflects how landscape architecture and environmental design as professions have changed. In the early 1960s, the program was a part of horticulture. By the end of the decade, it became a bachelor’s program, and in the mid-1970s, it stood as a separate department in the College of Agriculture.

Jason Walker, associate professor and undergraduate coordinator for landscape architecture in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design, recounts those earlier decades and their legacy.

“By the early 2000s, the professional Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture moved from a five-year to a four-year degree with the addition of a Master of Landscape Architecture program,” Walker said. “Since 2003, the department has been housed in its current three-building complex and was recently renamed the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design to reflect its growing emphasis on environmental design. While much has changed, the mission of preparing students for professional careers remains the same.”

Walker also noted that the program’s curriculum has adapted in response to sustainability, community engagement, and technology.

“Sustainability is integrated throughout the curriculum, from regenerative systems and ecological design to stormwater management,” Walker said. “Community engagement projects on campus, in Starkville, and across the region provide hands-on learning while serving real clients and communities. Technology is evolving rapidly, and the program continually adapts to integrate new tools while maintaining emphasis on applied, field-based learning that prepares students to imagine forward-thinking designs and bring them to life.”

Faculty agree that what makes MSU’s program distinctive nationally is its integration of design and contracting.

“We were the first to have a landscape contracting and management degree, and we are still the only program in the nation where landscape architecture and landscape contracting and management are part of the same program, with overlapping curriculum,” Spafford said. “Many of our students graduate with both degrees, which makes them highly desirable to the industry.”

Dr. Tim Schauwecker, professor and undergraduate coordinator for landscape contracting and management in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design, has seen how environmental shifts have influenced both the profession and MSU’s teaching.

“We do a lot more things that are environmentally related now than we did 50 years ago,” Schauwecker said. “We’ve started using more native plants, stream restoration, and water quality best management practices.”

He noted how policies around environmental matters have changed, and the department changed with them.

To prepare students for these opportunities, the department launched a new ecosystem management concentration.

“It’s geared toward habitat restoration, stream buffer design and implementation, and other best management practices,” Schauwecker said. “It fills the niche for companies doing more habitat-based work. Whether it’s pollinator or wildlife habitat, students trained in this concentration are ready for those specialized roles.”

Schauwecker said the concentration addresses the ecological, technological, and structural changes happening in industry. He added that the equipment used in the industry has become more sophisticated and accessible, from mini excavators to robotics and remote-controlled machines. He believes students who are drawn to technical innovation will find increasing opportunities in automation and AI-driven tools.

“That’s a big development on the horizon,” Schauwecker said, “And our students will be positioned to work in those areas as the industry evolves.”

Internships have long been a strength of MSU’s programs and Schauwecker emphasized how well-connected the department is to the industry.

“Our internship program is top-notch,” Schauwecker said. “We can place each student for three internships easily, just by having a wide array of company contacts that are always eager to hire our students. These internships not only provide practical skills but also establish relationships that often lead to full-time employment.”

As the department celebrates 60 years, its faculty also look toward the future. Spafford envisions MSU leading the nation in ecological systems design and community engagement.

“We were ahead of the curve when we included regenerative design as part of our mission statement,” Spafford said. “Since then, we’ve done a good job of keeping up with a changing profession, but I’d like to see us ahead of the curve again. I would like to see our programs here at Mississippi State University leading the nation in ecological systems design, bespoke design and build, and community engagement.”

The department is also expanding in new areas, such as the Environmental Science in Agricultural Systems major, which Spafford believes will create valuable crossover between landscape architecture and environmental science.

“We are excited to grow that program and to provide crossover courses between landscape architecture and environmental science,” Spafford said.

The September 18-20 anniversary celebration became a chance for alumni and faculty to take stock of the department’s legacy and envision its future. Planning committee members included Michael Bogan, a 1987 graduate and CEO of LandCare USA; Martha Hill, a 1983 graduate, General Manager of Earthscape Supply, and former department chair of landscape management technology at Hinds Community College; and Michael Hatcher, a 1982 graduate and president of Michael Hatcher and Associates, Inc.

Bogan reflected on the impact of the program’s graduates, noting that they have shaped communities across Mississippi and the Southeast.

“It was a privilege to gather with so many distinguished alumni to celebrate the department’s rich history and build on its successes,” Bogan said.

Hill emphasized how the program has influenced careers and lives. For her, the celebration highlighted the department’s legacy of opening doors and providing opportunities that extend beyond graduation.

“This milestone is a testament to the opportunities and lessons the department has provided for generations of students,” Hill said. “The passion of MSU’s alumni ensures its growth for years to come.”

For Hatcher, the anniversary carried both pride and responsibility. He recalled how the integration of landscape architecture and contracting enriched his own education, and values giving back through guest lectures and mentorship.

“As we celebrate sixty years of progress, I feel both pride in our history and excitement for the road ahead,” Hatcher said.

As it enters its seventh decade, the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design stands on a foundation of innovation, alumni engagement, and a commitment to people and the environment. Its history shows a balance of tradition and progress, and its future promises continued leadership in shaping resilient, sustainable, and meaningful landscapes.