UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Several landscape architecture faculty members and one graduate student from the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School at Penn State were recently recognized at the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) 2026 annual conference in Cincinnati.
Roxi Thoren, professor and head of the Department of Landscape Architecture, was named the recipient of CELA’s President’s Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization and the landscape architecture profession. She was also named the recipient of the organization’s Outstanding Administrator Award.
Thoren was recognized for her leadership as CELA representative to the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB), which included a term as LAAB chair. During her service, Thoren lead comprehensive revisions to the accreditation standards and spearheaded international credential recognition with partners including the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council (Canada) and the International Federation of Landscape Architects. She was previously named a recipient of the CELA Excellence in Teaching Award.
Chingwen Cheng, Stuckeman School director and professor of landscape architecture, was inducted into the CELA Academy of Fellows, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. She was named the 2025 recipient of the CELA President’s Award and served as CELA President in 2023-24.
Hong Wu, associate professor of landscape architecture, was elected to the CELA Executive Committee for 2026-2028 as the vice president of research and creative scholarship.
Marc Miller, associate professor of landscape architecture and Stuckeman School associate director for access, wellbeing and equity, was recognized for serving as the track chair for film by CELA.
Ankita Karmakar, an architecture doctoral student focusing on landscape architecture, was named the CELA student director elect for the 2026-27 academic year.
CELA is comprised of nearly all the programs of higher learning in landscape architecture in the United States and Canada. Its mission is to support educators in advancing the profession of landscape architecture.