Recognitions
Distinguished Professor Emeritus title conferred by Penn State University, July, 2024
Distinguished Honors Faculty, Schreyer Honors College, Penn State University, 2021–2023
Inaugural Editorial Board, Architecture, MDPI, 2021–present
Provost’s Advisory Committee on the Evan Pugh Fellowship, Penn State University, 2019–2021
Featured paper, Digital Landscape Architecture Conference, with Travis Flohr, DLA conference website, 2021
Academic Editor, Sustainability, 2015–2018; Review Board to present
Appointed Distinguished Professor, Penn State University, 2017–present
Nominee, Penn State Laureate (declined), Office of the Provost, Penn State University, 2017
Citation, Bringing Back the Don project cited for “Most significant and influential landscape architectural project, decade 1988-1998”, Ground vol. 43, 2018, Ontario Association of Landscape Architects; one of "4 top projects of the decade 1988-1998 in Ontario." I was Associate/Project Manager on the project with Hough Stansbury Woodland from 1990–1993
Citation, Don Valley Brickworks project cited for “Most significant and influential landscape architectural project, decade 1988–1998” Ground vol. 43, 2018; Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, one of 4 total for the decade; as Associate / Project Manager with Hough Stansbury Woodland Ltd.
Profiled, ‘Men in the Community,’ Town & Gown Magazine, Barash Media, April 2017
Nominee, Excellence in Service-Learning Award–Senior Level, Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, 2016
Exemplar on Engaged Scholarship, Campus Compact (coalition of 1,100 U.S. colleges and universities committed to higher education engagement), for our Tamminga & DeCiantis (2012) paper on the Pittsburgh Studio, 2015
Invited National Reviewer, Robert Rausch Foundation, Inaugural Climate Change Solutions Fund, 2015
Astorino Fellow, L. Astorino Endowment, Penn State University, 2014–2015
LArch 414 Pittsburgh Studio featured in "Engaged Scholarship" (at 3:05) video produced by WPSU/PBS, 2014 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75rYHfx_Xu4&t=47s
City Lights featured speaker, Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, on urban regeneration, hosted by the Penn State Alumni Association and College of Arts & Architecture, 2013
Engaged Scholarship Pioneer, Penn State Engagement Scholarship Council, 2013
Public Scholarship Fellow, Penn State University, Provost appointment, 2011–2012
Key informant / cited on engaged studio pedagogy in: Yarnal, C., J. Conner, et al. 2012. Service Learning / Student Engagement Task Force Final Report, Penn State University
LArch 414 studio featured in “The Pittsburgh Studio” video (6:32 total) produced by WPSU/PSB, 2011, at https://vimeo.com/61127014
National Finalist (1 of 4), Peter C. Magrath University / Community Engagement Award, for The Pittsburgh Studio: Regenerative Design in Stressed Communities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, 2011
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award, for The Pittsburgh Studio, from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, 2011
Community Engagement and Scholarship Award, for The Pittsburgh Studio, from Penn State University, 2011
Fellow, Fine Outreach for Science, Global Connections Project, Carnegie Mellon University, 2009–2013
Visiting Scholar Readership, American Academy in Rome’s Ross Library, as part of TeverEterno? sabbatical research, Spring 2008
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Urbanism–Theoretical Works, Brazilian Institute of Architects, for Águas Urbanas, V. Tângari, M. Schlee, R. Andrade and M. Dias, eds., 2007 (chapter author)
Featured in Levinson, D. and K. Christensen, 2003. ‘Renewal on the Ravages of a Steel Mill,’ Encyclopedia of Community: From the Village to the Virtual World, Vol. 2., for Pittsburgh’s Nine Mile Run regeneration
First Runner-up, Fulbright-FLAD Distinguished Chair in Landscape Ecology, University of Algarve, Portugal, 2002
Heinz Faculty Fellowship, Center for Watershed Stewardship, Penn State University, 2002
Governor’s Award for Watershed Stewardship, for Pittsburgh’s Nine Mile Run Project, with T. Collins, R. Goto, R. Bingham, S. Thompson, and John Rawlins, 2001
Governor’s Award for Watershed Stewardship, for Maiden Creek Watershed Assessment and Stewardship Plan, Assessment and Planning Category, as Faculty Fellow with the Center for Watershed Steward, 2001
Toronto Architecture & Urban Design Award, for the Don Valley Brickworks, Large Places category, from the City of Toronto, with Hough Stansbury Woodland Ltd., 2000
Nine Mile Run work featured in Miles, M. 2000. The Uses of Decoration: Essays in the Architectural Everyday, chapter 6: “Reclamation: Nine Mile Run Greenway”
Heinz Faculty Fellowship, Center for Watershed Stewardship, Penn State University, 1999–2000
Award of Recognition for Research and Teaching, from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, 1998
Three Rivers Environmental Award, for the Nine Mile Run Project, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, as CMU Research Fellow with T. Collins, R. Goto, R. Bingham, and the NMR core team, 1998
Don River restoration work featured as the center spread in: Crombie, David. 1993. Regeneration: Toronto’s Waterfront and the Sustainable City. Royal Commission on the Future of the Toronto Waterfront.
National Award for Planning Excellence, for the Don River Restoration project, from the Canadian Institute of Planners, design co-lead with M. Hough, R. Newbury and HSW team, 1992
National Citation Award, for the Toronto Brickworks, from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, design co-lead, with M. Hough and G. Baird, 1991
Urban Design Award of Excellence, for Hurontario Streetscape Enhancement, from the City of Mississauga, design lead, with Totten Sims Hubicki Associates, 1989
CMHC Graduate Fellowship, Queen's University, 1984–1986
Queen's University Graduate Scholarship, 1983–1984
Award of Honor, American Society of Landscape Architects, University of Guelph, 1983
Award of Merit, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, University of Guelph, 1983
Academic Proficiency Awards, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, 1981–1983
Highest Academic Proficiency in Design Studio Awards, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson Polytechnical Institute), 1980, 1981