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• Crowley Professor of Urban Planning and Design
• CELA, Academy of Fellows
• ASLA, Member

• Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), President
• CELA VP for Communication, Outreach, and Publications
• CELA track co-chair
• ASLA Committee on Education
• Landscape Journal Managing Editor
• Landscape Architect and Specifier News Associate Editor of Technology, Cortona Study Abroad
• Program (2007, 2015, 2018), UGA Costa Rica Study Abroad (2012)

Professor Steffens’ service record is truly outstanding, reflecting a sincere passion dedication to landscape architecture education and profession. She has served on University and College level committees such as the University Council, Executive Committee, and CED Technology Committee. She was the Faculty Advisor to the student chapter of ASLA, GSLA, during a time when they organized and hosted a successful LABash conference. She has served as an external reviewer for numerous tenure and promotion cases, grants, scholarships, and awards. Steffens has led and participated in several Rosters of Visiting Evaluators (ROVE) for the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) providing evaluation and insights into accreditation processes to numerous programs across the nation. Professor Steffens has provided extensive service as a reviewer for national conferences as well as professional journals including: CELA, EDRA, Design Communication Association conference, the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Pearson Publications.

Professor Steffens has taught different sections of the Landscape Architecture Registration Exam (LARE), served as award juror for professional design competitions including EDSA Fellowship Awards, The CLASS Fund award, the CELA Fountain Scholars, and ASLA Research Award.

Professor Steffens is a dedicated educator who has taught design studios, manual and digital graphic communication, portfolio development, and plant identification. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses including study abroad programs in Cortona, Italy and Costa Rica. Steffens also serves as an advisor/committee member for graduate thesis students.

Among many accolades and recognitions, she was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Teaching Innovation, Outstanding Junior Teaching Faculty Award, CED Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award, Cortona Study Abroad Faculty award, inducted into the

Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Academy of Fellows, and a UGA Women’s Leadership Fellow.

Professor Steffens’ research has been on technology and the profession, women in landscape architecture, and administration. Her early research tracked shifts in the profession which became the foundation of her published book titled Computer Graphics for Landscape Architects, an Introduction. She contributed a book chapter in Nadia Amoroso’s book In Representing Landscapes: Analogue, building on her passion of graphics, titled “The Hand Graphics

Experience.” Professor Steffens has been successful in writing and publishing peer-reviewed articles, abstracts in conference proceedings, professional articles, organizational reports and bulletins, and other creative contributions such as exhibits and workshops. Additionally, Professor Steffens has held editorial positions. As a Managing Editor of Landscape Journal, she worked closely with Dan Nadenicek and David Pitt overseeing the publication of seven journal issues. She has served as Co-Editor of Landscape Research Record and as Associate Editor of Technology for Landscape Architect and Specifier News.

Professor Steffens’ service record is outstanding reflecting dedication to the University and the profession of landscape architecture. She has served on University Council and the Executive Committee, as the faculty advisor for the CED student organization, GSLA, and she has participated in a panel discussion on women in landscape architecture, hosted by the Georgia Chapter of ASLA. Steffens regularly participates as a ROVE member (Rosters of Visiting Evaluators) for the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) providing evaluation and insights into accreditation processes to numerous programs across the nation.

In 2016, Professor Steffens was elected to the CELA Executive Committee as VP of Communication, Outreach and Publications, and in 2018 was elected to serve a three-year term as President. During her presidency, Professor Steffens was instrumental in leading efforts to determine the scale and scope needed for CELA’s new Executive Director and participated in the successful national search resulting in the hire of IMI Association Executives. She led the efforts for developing the CELA Global Investiture Fund, revising CELA’s By-laws after regaining lost tax status, as well as charging a task force with exploring the future direction of Landscape Journal. Steffens played an important role in two significant CELA strategic planning forums that yielded CELA’s new strategic map, vision and mission statements. Additionally, Steffens provided great leadership to CELA when Covid-19 outbreak resulted in the unprecedented need for alternatives to the in-person annual conference.