2025 Fellows: Patricia Trauth, FASLA, San Diego Chapter

RICK, San Diego, CA
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Patricia Trauth has built her four-decade-long career around championing the landscape architecture profession, inspiring and supporting new career pathways, pioneering management roles for herself and other women, and excelling at her craft by creating innovative sustainable designs. Her impact at the local, state, and national levels through ASLA and other leadership roles are widely recognized by her peers. As the second woman principal of RICK (formerly Rick Engineering Company) and through her partnership role in multidisciplinary firms, she has elevated landscape architecture to be a critical component in the planning stages of transportation, complete streets, and economic development. Patricia has planned and designed numerous public and private projects in San Diego County, the Los Angeles basin, and the greater Denver area. Her most noteworthy project transformed the San Diego International Airport into a sustainable environment using state-of-the-art materials, processes, and equipment while accounting for climate-related challenges such as sea level rise, drought, soil depletion, and air quality. Patricia's passion for the profession led her to serve in many ASLA positions: two terms as San Diego Chapter Trustee: San Diego Chapter President, President-elect, and Vice President (two terms); newsletter editor; Arizona Chapter President-elect; and state-level representative on the California Council ASLA. She also chaired the Landscape Architects Technical Committee, which manages licensure in California for over 3,600 professionals, Patricia played a key role in making California legislation more inclusive. At every opportunity, whether working in the private sector, teaching, or volunteering in related organizations, she has actively worked to advance the profession of landscape architecture through raising awareness and facilitating the professional development of students, colleagues, and staff.