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College of Environment and Design

Dean's Advisory Council Members Receive Honors from ASLA and UGA

Bob Hughes and Ed Castro receive honors

The final week of June 2022 brought great news for two members of the CED Dean’s Advisory Council. Both Bob Hughes (BLA ‘77) and Ed Castro (BLA ‘88) received significant honors in our landscape architecture and UGA communities, and we are proud to celebrate and share their accomplishments.

On June 27th, The University of Georgia Foundation announced six new Board of Trustee members. Among them is CED alum Ed Castro, owner and president of Ed Castro Landscape, who will serve as an advisory trustee to assist with defining the foundation’s strategic goals and developing action plans to achieve them. Castro has served on the CED Dean’s Advisory Council for several years, and we are excited to see how his professional experience and strong leadership contributes to the UGA Foundation’s future

The next day on June 28th, Bob Hughes was named as part of the American Society of Landscape Architects 2022 Council of Fellows. Election to the Council of Fellows is the highest honor ASLA members can receive. The title recognizes significant contributions to landscape architecture as well as society at large. Hughes is a founding partner, president, and principal of Atlanta-based design firm HGOR and is a highly respected leader in innovative and sustainable design. Hughes will be recognized alongside the other 26 honorees at the 2022 Conference on Landscape Architecture scheduled for November 11th -14th in San Francisco, CA.

Dean Sonia Hirt described Hughes and Castro as “outstanding members of the CED community” and emphasized how their personal integrity and professional innovation have been a positive impact on programs here. “In addition to their generosity, they have contributed their vision, talents, and insights bringing fresh ideas to the college,” she said.

Both Hughes and Castro have served on the Dean’s Advisory Council for several years and each have led important initiatives during their service. “Ed did a fantastic job leading our students in organizing LABASH, the annual conference of landscape architecture students a couple of years go. I think the students gave him the title Grand Marshall,” Dean Hirt recalled. “Bob initiated conversations on the possibility of starting a Center for Urban Parks at CED, which we are still working on.”

We are continually grateful for the excellent community engagement and leadership experience our Dean’s Advisory Council brings to CED, and we congratulate Bob and Ed in these well-deserved honors. “The amazing accomplishments of both [Bob and Ed] are proof of the quality of the education we offer and serve as an inspiration to our students,” Dean Hirt said.

Thank you, Bob, Ed, and our entire Dean’s Advisory Council, for all you do for CED and the design field as a whole!

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