2026 Class of Fellows: Drake Fowler, PLA, FASLA, North Carolina Chapter

The North Carolina Arboretum; Asheville, North Carolina
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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 48

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Category: Leadership/Management, Page 48

Drake Fowler, PLA, ASLA, is a transformative leader whose career exemplifies how landscape architects can lead with impact across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. As the Executive Director of The North Carolina Arboretum, Fowler has merged design thinking with executive business acumen to navigate some of the most significant challenges of our time, from the Great Recession to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. Fowler's leadership reached its most critical point in 2024, when Hurricane Helene caused massive damage to the Arboretum, uprooting over 10,000 mature trees and blocking access to vital trails and roads. Under his swift coordination with FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers, he transformed the site into a community recovery hub. He directed staff to clear emergency routes for neighboring families and worked with local artists to create benches from downed timber, turning a landscape of devastation into a space for communal reflection and healing. His influence extends far beyond crisis management. Fowler led the resilient design of the Sierra Nevada Brewery, which achieved the rare feat of a site-wide LEED Platinum certification. He has also been a champion for education and equity, reaching over 70,000 students annually through Arboretum programs and creating the ecoEXPLORE citizen science initiative. His mentorship of students at North Carolina A&T University, an HBCU, reflects his deep commitment to building diverse pathways into the profession. A past president of the North Carolina ASLA Chapter, Drake Fowler has continuously advocated for the vital role of landscapes in society. Whether conserving threatened species at Willow Pond or securing millions in funding for public assets, he consistently demonstrates that landscape architects are essential leaders in building a more resilient and inclusive future.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.