Judith Stilgenbauer is a visionary force attuned to Hawaii's distinct professional, academic, and government landscapes. In less than a decade, she not only demonstrated sensitivity to these unique communities but also established Hawaii's first accredited MLA program.

 
Stilgenbauer's transformative leadership has pioneered educational advancements and set a precedent for excellence, leaving an indelible mark on the intersection of academia, government, and the landscape architecture profession in Hawaii.

Beyond program development and other administrative roles, Stilgenbauer's academic thought leadership in the areas of performative landscape architecture, ecological urban design, nature-based solutions, and coastal resilience/climate-adaptation design has resulted in a high level of recognition and prominence in the field.

In her professional practice, she has been the lead designer and principal investigator for projects that have won design competitions and awards and been featured prominently in a range of publications. Notably, her applied coastal resilience and sea-level rise adaptation design research has generated significant public attention, grants, and lecture invitations, further underscoring her impact on the profession.

Before being recruited by UHM to develop, establish, and manage accreditation of the MLA program, Stilgenbauer spent nine years on the faculty at the University of California at Berkeley and several years at Technische Universität München in Germany.

Her leadership extends into positions within ASLA, including the ASLA Board of Trustees, the Committee on Education, and the Climate Action Committee, and leadership roles within the Hawaii Chapter.