LAF Fellowship for Innovation and Leadership

The LAF Fellowship for Innovation and Leadership was established to foster transformational leadership capacity and innovation to advance the field of landscape architecture. The $25,000 fellowship is an opportunity for mid-career or senior-level professionals to dedicate the equivalent of 3 months’ time over the course of one year to nurture emerging ideas and to think deeply. It is designed as a time to reflect, research, explore, create, test, and develop ideas into action.

Each year, 3-5 fellowships are awarded through a competitive application process based on a proposed project. Recipients receive a $25,000 financial award and participate in 3 three-day residencies over the course of a year, as well as monthly conference calls throughout the year.

Selected projects must demonstrate the potential to bring about positive change to the environment and humanity and have the capacity to grow the leadership potential of landscape architects. Projects may be grounded in theoretical or historical investigations, product development, new practice or service models, built work or any activity that creates knowledge and empowers landscape architecture.

Eligibility

• Applicants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture. For those with degrees from colleges/universities in the U.S. and Canada, the landscape architecture program must be LAAB- or LAAC-accredited. For those outside of the U.S. and Canada, in locations where landscape architecture is not a recognized degree, a degree in a related discipline is acceptable, provided that the applicant works as a landscape architect. (See Application Materials for required documentation.)
• Applicants must have a minimum of 6 years of professional experience in landscape architecture. This experience can include all types of practice — private, public, academic, non-profit, service, multi-disciplinary, and other.
• Applicants must be able to communicate in written and spoken English at an advanced/professional level and provide evidence of proficiency.
• Applicants must be able to dedicate time to the fellowship and proposed project. They will be required to obtain a letter of support from their employers for time-off from their regular employment.
• Current LAF staff and members of the LAF Board of Directors are not eligible. Former staff and former members of the LAF Board of Directors who meet the above requirements are eligible.
• Teams may apply for the Fellowship, provided that the Team Lead meets the above requirements. There are no restrictions on the size of the team. If selected, the team will share the $25,000 award.

Application Process

LAF only accepts Fellowship applications through its online application platform, SlideRoom. The deadline to submit all application materials, including reference letters, is December 1, 2016.

An application fee of $50 (USD) must be paid through SlideRoom when the application is submitted.

Selection Process

Five accomplished and insightful leaders in the landscape architecture field will serve as jurors, with the jury convening in December and January. Finalists for the Fellowships are expected to be available for a video/web-based interview in January. Fellowship winners will be announced in early February.

Project proposals will be evaluated on the following:

• Quality of the applicant’s submission.
• Contribution to knowledge and innovation in the discipline of landscape architecture.
• Potential to increase landscape architecture leadership in addressing global challenges.
• Expansion and transformation of landscape architecture leadership capacity for the profession.

Preference will be given to applicants who are at a point in their careers where their participation in the Fellowship is likely to be optimum for their future growth and development as leaders in the profession of landscape architecture.

Official Link: https://lafoundation.org/leadership/laf-fellowship/

Deadline: December 1, 2016