Drake Fowler, Deputy Executive Director at The North Carolina Arboretum, was installed as the president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Oct. 30 during the association's national meeting. Fowler is a current board member of the NC chapter and will serve a one-year term as the president.

 
Fowler joined the Arboretum during 2015 as the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer and assumed the post of Deputy Executive Director in 2019. He has been instrumental in the recent $2 million renovation and expansion of parking; overseeing the design and implementation of the $1.2 Willow Pond project that is a stormwater management, education and conservation initiative that protects the rare mole salamander; and programming of future improvements at the Arboretum's Parkway entrance.

"Drake has been instrumental in stewarding a broad range of responsibilities, including leading the creation of the 2020 master plan that lays out a 25-year vision for the institution's grounds and facilities. We are fortunate to have his creative leadership in our midst. He will be a transformative leader for our many landscape architectural colleagues throughout North Carolina," stated George Briggs, FASLA, the Arboretum's Executive Director.

The Chapter's mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education, and fellowship. Landscape architects lead the stewardship, planning, and design of our built and natural environments. Evidence of landscape architects' work throughout the state exists in urban and community developments, college and university campuses, parks and public gardens, and residences.

Practicing landscape architects in North Carolina must be licensed and obtain continuing education credits annually to remain current. Professional degree programs are located at North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T University.