Jade Orr Joins CBE Faculty

The College of Built Environments (CBE) welcomes Assistant Professor Jade Orr to the Department of Landscape Architecture. Her work explores how design, planning, and policy shape public space, democracy, and collective agency, bringing new perspectives to the study and practice of landscape architecture.

Academic Journey

Jade began her academic career with an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts and Humanities before earning a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) from the University of Southern California. After completing her MLA, she worked in professional practice in both San Diego and Los Angeles, contributing to a range of public and private projects.

Her experiences in practice deepened her curiosity about research and the broad capacity of landscape architecture and the built environment disciplines. This led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Geography, Planning, and Design from the University of Colorado Denver, which she recently completed.

Research Focus

Jade’s research explores the intersections between public space, democracy, and collective agency. Her doctoral work examined how characteristics of public spaces – both design and policy related – shape or enable opportunities for collective action and expression.

“I focused on understanding the connections between design, planning, and legal geographies that underpin our public spaces and how that impacts collective action and democratic expression,” she explained. “My previous research has focused on planning and land use responses to the crisis of homelessness and where some of these responses sit at the intersection of climate, accessibility, and care -factors that are important for us to think more critically about.”

Joining CBE

Jade shared that she was drawn to the College because of the influential work of current and former faculty and the collaborative culture of the department. “There is a great deal of important and innovative work happening within the College, which I find both exciting and really engaging,” she said. “In my own department, the diversity of scholarship and practice is something I really value. I was also drawn to the strong sense of community within the department and the emphasis on effective pedagogy. That is something that closely aligns with my own values and one of the main reasons that I pursued a career in academia.”

Looking ahead, Jade is eager to collaborate across disciplines and engage students in exploring how design and policy influence community life and public agency. “I think right now is a really critical and interesting time for higher education and for our profession,” she said. “I am excited to be joining an environment with people whose values I really admire and who are proactive about the work that needs to be done.”

Department Welcome

Interim Department Chair Julie Parrett shared her excitement about Jade’s arrival, noting that her work enriches and expands how landscape architecture engages with design, policy, and the public realm. “Jade brings an incredible depth of thinking about how design, planning, and policy shape the public realm and our shared experiences within it,” said Parrett. “Her interdisciplinary approach and commitment to pedagogy align beautifully with our department’s values, and we are delighted to welcome her to our community.”

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