MEET MARK BOYER Professor Mark E. Boyer, MLA ’96, head of the University of Arkansas’s Department of Landscape Architecture and graduate of the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture, has been selected to serve as the school’s new director, effective July 2015. “It is amazing to come back home,” said Boyer, who was born in Michigan and grew up in Kansas. “I’m not from Louisiana, but—as someone once told me— once you’ve been to LSU, it gets in your blood. I’m excited to come back and completely honored to be offered the position as director of the school.” Professor Emeritus Van Cox, interim director through June 2015, said Boyer’s sincere passion for the profession reminds him of the school’s founder, Dr. Robert S. Reich. “Mark understands our traditions and is committed to an even better future. We are delighted to welcome Mark back ‘home.’” After receiving his BS in landscape architecture
Architecture and the American Society of Landscape
er followed two years of practice—he is a registered
Architects. As director, Boyer said, he will focus
landscape architect in Louisiana and Arkansas—with a
on continuing the efforts that have garnered the
graduate degree at LSU.
school’s stellar reputation and top billing in annual
“I was at LSU when Robert Reich was still
and continue his work with ASLA to market and
and be around Neil Odenwald, Suzanne Turner [who
promote the landscape architecture profession as a
headed the search committee for the directorship],
whole. Most of all, he is looking forward to working
Wayne Womack, Dan Earle, Jon Emerson, Chuck
closely with the faculty, staff, and fellow Robert
Fryling, Bruce Sharky, Max Conrad, Sadik Artunc,
Reich School of Landscape Architecture alumni. “The faculty are essential in establishing the
he laughed. “I understand the foundation and the
culture of the program and the experience of the
legacy of the program and am looking forward to
students so they, too, get LSU in their blood and
building the next phase.”
stay connected as alumni,” Boyer said. “Alumni are
Boyer’s credentials are vast and impressive,
MEET MARK BOYER
rankings. He also has plans to focus on recruitment
teaching,” he recalled. “I was fortunate to work with
and Van Cox—I don’t want to leave anyone out!”
34
such as the Council of Educators of Landscape
with distinction from the University of Kentucky, Boy-
critically important to the success of the school, and
including his professional practice and research, his
I will be relying on those relationships to develop
years teaching at the University of Arkansas, and his
partnerships and create more internship and job
extensive involvement in professional organizations
opportunities for our students and graduates.”