Pictured above is Mark Brand's Woody Landscape Plants class in the field. The class covers a little over 150 species of deciduous and evergreen woody trees, shrubs and vines that are commonly used in the landscapes of the northeastern United States. Students learn about taxonomy, identification, ornamental characteristics, cultural requirements and landscape uses of the plants. They spend every lab of the semester out on the campus grounds and use it as a living laboratory to observe a diverse collection of plants up close and in action. Mark has been teaching this course for 15 years.

This has been a challenging month for the PSLA family as we have lost one of our own, Nicole Gabelman. The outpouring of support from within our department and college was a reflection of the impact a single person can have on the lives of many through their professional role. Several members of the department contributed to the nomination of Nicole for the CAHNR / UCANRA Staff Award and there will be a moment of silence at the upcoming CAHNR Faculty & Staff meeting on December 19th, with Cathryn Chapman reading Nicole's obituary. While these actions cannot replace the light that was taken from our hallway in W.B. Young, it helps to know we are a community that will support one another as we forge our path forward as a unit; as Nicole would have wanted us to do.

Members of our department continue to carry the torch and make a mark on our community, as highlighted in this issue of our monthly newsletter. This includes SPSS undergraduate, Emily Syme, and members of our graduate and undergraduate cohort. For example, many of our undergraduate and graduate students were honored at the UConn CAHNR Scholars Ceremony & Brunch Celebration, and our alumni, like Sean Vasington, continue to contribute in ways that are both thoughtful and impactful for our students and community. As always, we invite you to share your latest news with us! To help in the process of collecting your news, we've created a new online form to send us the news. Do not hesitate to reach out to us to let us know what is new!

Share your news with us! Here are examples:

– Yi Li, Professor, PSLA

She had a vast understanding of the intricacies of the department. Her knowledge came with experience but her kindness was a choice.

– Lauren Kurtz, Graduate Student, PSLA

We recently lost a beloved member of our PSLA family, Nicole Gabelman.

Nicole first came to PSLA in 2012 as a research specialist conducting research related to invasive plant species. In 2015, she joined our department’s administrative team to assist with academic programs in a position that was initially temporary and then a 50/50 split between PSLA and Allied Health Sciences. In 2017, Nicole acquired a full-time position in our administrative team by taking on financial operations for the department (a vacancy that was in itself a full-time position), in addition to continuing responsibilities for academic program support. From 2017 until November of 2022, Nicole held the role of Administrative Program Support 2. Nicole recently completed steps for reclassification to Administrative Program Support 3, which was effective November 16, 2022. Our department nominated Nicole for the CAHNR / UCANRA Staff Award and a selection of quotes from the nomination letter are included here.

– Gerald Berkowitz, Professor, PSLA

Favorite project: An exhibition on the intersection of cartography and landscape architecture: https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/exhibition/cartographic-grounds-exhibition/

Favorite thing about plant science and/or landscape architecture: I love the challenge of designing spaces with a growing and changing medium; and that the broad nature of the field has allowed me to work on a wide variety of projects from bespoke benches and books to neighborhood plans and climate adaptation strategies. I am always, always learning new things.

Why UConn?: I am drawn to a small program with wonderful colleagues, and appreciate that it combines landscape architecture with plant science. I see an incredible opportunity for cross-disciplinary learning and fieldwork, for nurturing designers who love plants and scientists who appreciate spatial thinking. I feel very lucky to be here.

Sean Vasington (PSLA grad '00) has generously donated a wealth of landscape architecture books to our department. Thank you, Sean!

Sean is the University Landscape Architect and Director of Site Planning in the Office of University Planning, Design and Construction at UConn. He received his B.S. in Landscape Architecture in 2000 and holds professional landscape architectural registration in Connecticut and is certified by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.

It's not too late to register! With retirements and new hires, our department will offer the following courses in the spring semester taught by adjunct or new faculty in the department. These courses are in addition to what is traditionally offered by our department in the spring semester.

We will be working quickly to be able to get these position descriptions developed, approved, and advertised. In the meantime, please be thinking about anyone in your networks that might be a potential recruit. We are an enegetic and dynamic department that will be seeking applicants that enjoy a high-paced work environment. Feel free to send their contact information to everhart@uconn.edu to invite them to apply.

December 9th - Last Day of the Horticulture Club Poinsettia sale. Plants will be available for sale at the Floriculture Greenhouse. To place orders, or for more information, email uconnhortclub@gmail.com

December 9th - Evan Lentz interviews for the PSLA position of Assistant Extension Educator in Fruit Management. Seminar presentation from 1:15 – 2:15pm in ATL 109.

December 13th - PSLA Winter Celebration. Potluck and Yankee Swap from 12:30-2:30pm. See details below.

December 26 - January 2nd - The PSLA admin offices will be closed during this week. Please plan your work accordingly and enjoy the holiday.