About Green City Blog and Studio

Our Story

Green City Blog and Studio is a project of the Department of Landscape Architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), dedicated to contributing original work that advances community resiliency and opportunity. Publications are culminating Master’s Projects typically completed by teams of students under advisement by faculty. Articles are written by graduate students in the Department’s Master of Landscape Architecture program, subject to peer review and editorial approval. The intention is to present original work that advances community resiliency in the face of climate change.

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All content is created and edited by faculty and graduate students in the Department of Landscape Architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona)

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Kyle D. Brown, PhD

Founder & Editor

Dr. Brown is a Professor of Landscape Architecture and Instructor of the Green City Studio. Areas of expertise include climate change action and community regeneration.

Claire Latané, MLA, ASLA

Past Editor

Claire is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and former Co-Instructor of the Green City Studio. She writes about, teaches, and advocates for design that supports public health, equity, and climate resilience.

Tori Kjer, PLA

Past Editor

Tori is a former Lecturer in Landscape Architecture, and former Co-Instructor of the Green City Studio. She serves as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust.

James Kingsbury

Contributor

James Kingsbury is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2022). Initially drawn to landscape architecture’s broad aim of benefitting both people and the environment, James has since developed special interests in restorative urban space, therapeutic landscapes, and human-ecological design and planning at all scales. He hopes his future work will produce environments that support physical and mental health while addressing the most pressing environmental concerns related to climate change.

Ernesto Perez

Contributor

Ernesto Perez was born and raised in South Gate, California. He received his B.S. and, completed, his Master’s in Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona (2022). He hopes to continue his work in Southeast L.A by being a voice for his community and inspiring future generations to come. Outside of studio you can find Ernesto running the mountains of southern California and eating chilaquiles with his family on Sunday’s mornings.

Eduardo Baca

Contributor

Eduardo Baca was born and raised in San Jose California, served in the U.S. Army as a Cavalry Scout where he spent 15 months in theatre, and moved to Southern California to pursue a B.A. at the University of California, Irvine. He comes to landscape architecture with a background in political studies, international relations, and landscape construction. As a Masters student studying landscape architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Eduardo worked as a Foreman at an Orange County golf club applying collaborative design in landscape plantings. He graduated in 2022 and plans to cultivate his interest in community design throughout his professional practice.

Glynda Tucker

Contributor

Glynda Tucker is a Master of Landscape Architecture graduate at Cal Poly Pomona (2022). She holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California, Riverside. Drawing upon her experiences in public health and researching culturally resonant design, she is passionate about studying and working at the intersection of racial health equity and community-based design and planning interventions.

Robert Douglass

Contributor

Robert Douglass was born and raised in the Inland Empire of Southern California. He comes to landscape architecture with a background in political economics, community organizing, landscape construction, and urban farming. As a student of landscape design and planning who completed his MLA in 2022, he is working to cultivate a practice of collaborative design that centers community’ voices in ways that inspire transformation and support community healing. Outside the studio you can find Robert trail running, playing the guitar, on the yoga mat, volunteering in the community, or cooking.

Lani MacLean

Contributor

As a student of life and Landscape Architecture, Lani MacLean draws a holistic vision from her undergraduate studies in Geography. She graduated with her MLA in 2022, and is deeply interested in the intersections of culture, climate and landscape, and intends to continue exploring and supporting these connections as she continues to grow her practice.

Carolink Kahnlari

Contributor

Carolin Khanlari is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2022). She holds a BFA in Interior Architecture from California State University Long Beach. Her passion for artistic, sustainable design and combining interior space with the exterior environment led her to extend her Interior education into Landscape Architecture. She believes by combining the two interior design and landscape architecture fields, she can create dynamic urban areas that have green structures with efficient and responsible water management, adequate biodiversity, good air quality, and excellent climate adaptation. She hopes to build her own firm where she can have a positive impact both in people’s living spaces and the outdoor environments for a sustainable and healthy balance.

Hector San Martin

Contributor

Hector San Martin is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at Cal Poly Pomona (2022) and holds a Bachelor’s in Plant Science. He aspires to lead changes in developing cities to be more prosperous and by merging the human and natural environment. He would like to apply scientific principles into design to mitigate environmental pressures while enhancing, restoring, and protecting natural spaces.

Eddie Meyerholz

Contributor

Eddie Meyerholz is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at Cal Poly Pomona (2022). His work explores connecting native habitats with urban corridors, bringing outdoor opportunities into marginalized communities, and encouraging new ways to balance environmental protection with development.

Neil Heacox

Contributor

Neil Heacox is a graduate of the Master of landscape architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2022), and is interested in the systemic function of Southern California’s native ecosystems. His focus is on ecological design, sustainability, and green infrastructure as ways to bring nature back into our urban fabric. He hopes this will not only improve residents’ wellbeing and community resilience, but also help solidify a sense of identity and place that inspires future generations.

Macy Dreizler

Contributor

Macy Dreizler is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2022). She holds a BA in Peace

Mina Lai

Contributor

Mina Lai is a graduate of the Landscape Architecture program at Cal Poly Pomona (2022). She has an interest in intermixing urban and natural realms together for multiple benefits for humans (physical and mental well-being), animals, plant/fauna, and the overall environment living beings share. She hopes to build various technical skills and insight necessary to harmonize a sustainable and healthy balance of the numerous factors affecting the outdoor environments.

Hannah Kaiser

Contributor

Hannah Kaiser is a graduate of the Master’s of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2022).

Adrian Tenney

Contributor

Adrian Tenney is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2021).

Philip B. Gann

Contributor

Philip B. Gann is a Master of Landscape Architecture graduate at Cal Poly Pomona (2021). He is focused on a career designing complex human habitats for the public realm and desires to play a major role in the development of California’s public transportation systems.

Graham Goldich

Contributor

Graham Goldich is an ardent designer, gardener and builder working to translate a passion for ecologically conscious food systems into the medium of landscape architecture. Formerly, he was the principal and founder of culinary landscaping company: Eden Landscape Design LLC and currently in the employ of California’s largest urban farming venture: Farmscape Gardens LLC. Having completed his master’s degree in landscape architecture (2021), he is committed to realizing designs celebrating bounty, beauty and community.

Linley Green

Contributor

Linley Green is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2021). She holds a BFA in Painting and Sculpture from the University of New Mexico. In both her art practice and landscape design work, she explores how humans experience and relate to their surroundings. She strives to work with natural systems to create spaces that foster stronger connections between people, the land, and wildlife.

Jose G. Gutierrez

Contributor

Jose Guadalupe Gutierrez is a Master of Landscape Architecture graduate at Cal Poly Pomona (2021). For the past eight years Jose has worked as a greenspace organizer in Los Angeles, guiding park and community garden projects across the county through the community design process. Jose previously worked with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust and From Lot to Spot, both LA-based greenspace nonprofits that fight for park equity by building parks, community gardens and planting trees in working communities of color.

Michelle Shanahan

Contributor

Michelle Shanahan is a Master of Landscape Architecture graduate at Cal Poly Pomona (2021). Her work aims to incorporate both human and environmental health through design.

Sarah Fisher

Contributor

Sarah Fisher is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona (2021). She has a B.S. from Humboldt State University in Wildlife Biology, which informs her passion for ecology focused design. She hopes to create landscapes that support human health in the face of climate change and biodiversity for generations to come.

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Lauren McKenna

Contributor

Lauren McKenna is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). Her background in environmental science and education informs her interest in the confluence of ecology, spirituality and environmental justice. She hopes her education can help her better advocate for green space equity in underserved communities.

Muriel Fernandez Replogle

Muriel Fernandez Replogle

Contributor

Muriel Fernandez Replogle is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). Her work focuses on the environmental design with biological and cultural ecology. She hopes to meet the urgent social and environmental demands with a degree of interdisciplinary cooperation towards sustainability.

Brittney Seman

Brittney Seman

Contributor

Brittney Seman is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020) She has a wide variety of interests from ecological and historic restoration to community regeneration and participatory design.

Raquel Reynolds

Raquel Reynolds

Contributor

Raquel Reynolds is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). She holds an Architecture and Urban Design degree from Pontificia Universidade Catolica, Curitiba, Brazil. As a design professional, her passion lies on creating livable, well-connected, and walkable cities that prioritize the inclusion of people and urban wildlife.

photo of Sancho Cagulada

Sancho Cagulada

Contributor

Sancho Cagulada is a graduate graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). His interests revolve around participatory design and the integration of landscape architecture to transportation and industrial infrastructures.

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Ava Cheng

Contributor

Ava Cheng is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). Her background in Environmental Studies informs her design approach for a more sustainable future.

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Lana Jeries

Contributor

Lana Romel Jeries is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). She has a bachelor’s in Architecture from the German Jordanian University. Her work focuses on designing healthy, well-connected, walkable cities to move towards a future of resiliency.

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Brian Neshek

Contributor

Brian Neshek is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). His work focuses on creating walkability and connections between communities while emphasizing the benefits green infrastructure has for the environment.

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Patricia Kaihara Arce

Contributor

Patricia Kaihara Arce is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona (2020). With her background in architecture, she wishes to practice in integrating Landscape Architecture into sustainable low income residential buildings.

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Morgen Ruby

Contributor

Morgen Ruby holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). She aspires to focus her work climate action planning, particularly in the realm of transportation equity.

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Dan Scheir

Contributor

Dan Scheir is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). He has strong interests in working to improve the health of communities by encouraging active lifestyles through his planning and design.

Chris Konieczny

Chris Konieczny

Contributor

Christopher Konieczny is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). His work aims to enrich urban landscapes to better support healthy and sustainable lifestyle opportunities with a strong focus on transit planning.

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Laurel Skinner

Contributor

Laurel is a Masters of Landscape Architecture graduate from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). Her undergraduate background and main interest is public health. She hopes to pursue ventures where she can look at the relationship between Landscape Architecture and public health.

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Kay Kite

Contributor

Kay is a graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2020). Her work focuses on water quality and conservation as a part of landscapes, as well as climate change resilience. She is a Certified Irrigation Designer and has over 20 years of work experience in the Landscape Architecture industry.