John Ellsworth
Leadership Interlude
John Ellsworth joined the faculty in 1985. Ellsworth was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and attended the University of Arkansas for his undergraduate studies. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Science with an emphasis in botany and geology. Ellsworth learned about landscape architecture from a fellow student and became interested in the profession. An “avid rock climber, backpacker, and angler, “ he decided to attend USU for graduate school, not only due to the reputation of the LAEP department, but also because of the proximity to the mountains.
Toth’s first tenure as department head ended in 1982, when he stepped down from the position in order to expand his role in research, and to work on larger landscape level projects in classes. Reflecting on nearly a decade in the position, he commented that the atmosphere that existed in the department “was a very close collegial feeling,” and it was a time that the department was able to accomplish a great deal, from overhauling the curriculum to moving into a new building.
Ellsworth’s interest in landscape architecture was aligned with large scale planning and natural resource management ideas that were being advanced by Ian McHarg and others. It was not until after his graduation from LAEP and employment at the University of Idaho as a faculty member, that he began to connect with the more traditional art aspect of landscape architecture. After being on the faculty at the University of Idaho for three, oneyear appointments, he applied and was hired at USU, where he remained until his retirement in 2009.
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John Ellsworth
(From left to right) Michael Timmons, Rick Barrett, Jock Little, Craig Johnson, John Nicholson and Vern Budge pose triumphant after an LAEP Week relay race against students in 1985
Following Toth, Jerry Fuhriman was promoted to the position of department head for the 1982/1983, and 1983/1984 academic years. Craig Johnson followed Jerry as department head for three years, from 1984-1987. In 1987, Richard Toth was asked by Dean Robert Hoover to again assume the