2026 Class of Fellows: Lori Cockerham Catalano, PLA, FASLA, Colorado Chapter

Colorado State University; Fort Collins, Colorado
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Category: Knowledge, Page 45

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Category: Knowledge, Page 45

Lori Cockerham Catalano, PLA, ASLA, is a transformative educator and practitioner whose work has reshaped how landscape architecture is taught and understood. With over 20 years in academia and 35 years in practice, she has dedicated her career to advancing the "knowledge" of the profession by bridging the gap between creative theory and real-world application. As an associate professor at Colorado State University, Lori is exceptionally regarded for her ability to help students navigate the "unclear ground" of the design process, turning creative resistance into confidence and resilience. A hallmark of Lori's career is her commitment to experiential learning and community service. She has led hundreds of students through participatory design projects, notably working with residents in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward post-Katrina to reconnect the community with its natural bayou. This work, which earned her the national CELA Award for Excellence in Service Learning, demonstrates her belief that landscape architecture is a powerful tool for community self-determination. Her leadership also extended to the "Hometown Colorado Initiative," an innovative program that paired university research with the needs of local municipalities. Lori's influence reaches far beyond the classroom as co-author of a forthcoming book on creative resistance and her international teaching roles, including a prestigious position with Semester at Sea and visiting instructor in China. Her scholarship also addresses critical regional issues, such as developing sustainable planting aesthetics for the arid West. By modeling curiosity and vulnerability, Lori Catalano has empowered a generation of landscape architects to find their creative voices while ensuring the profession remains deeply connected to the communities it serves.

As seen in LASN magazine, August 2026.