2025 Fellows: Carisa McMullen, FASLA, Prairie Gateway Chapter

Landworks Studio, Olathe, KS
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Carisa McMullen has dedicated her career to promoting and improving landscape architecture through leadership in international, national, regional, and local organizations. She created her own practice committed to exposing the public to and teaching others about the profession of landscape architecture. Her ability to recognize underlying challenges or obstacles, bring them to the forefront, and work alongside others to solve issues in creative ways has yielded exceptional accomplishments and her fingerprints can be found in and around her neighborhood and international community dating back decades. Carisa has worked over a decade to revitalize downtown Olathe and demonstrate to varied audiences the skills and expertise of landscape architects. To make the biggest impact, she purchased a key building in Olathe's downtown. Renovating outdated office to new retail at ground level and with her studio above, Carisa remains a key business and stakeholder while using her influence for downtown revitalization. She participates in steering groups, like Olathe's Downtown Plan, Olathe Comprehensive Plan, the Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitor Bureau Board, and the Public Art Committee. Using her firm as a platform, Carisa has created opportunities and strategically accepted volunteer positions that advance her beliefs and policies about the profession, allowing her to authentically lead and manage organizations. Her firm facilitates events with the local Boys & Girls Clubs, sponsors and engages annually in a Women's Leadership Summit, and offers pro bono design services to organizations in need, including several who provide sustainable food options. Carisa is the 2019 recipient of the Prairie Gateway Chapter's highest honor, the Alton B. Thomas Award, which recognizes performance that directly promotes or enhances landscape architecture.