ASLA Partners with ACE Mentoring Program

Mentoring program will help introduce high school students to landscape architecture as a profession.

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ASLA national and Potomac Chapter firm leaders kick off the Society's sponsorship of the ACE Mentor Program. Left to right: (standing) ACE Executive Director Pamela Mullender, Robert Tilson, FASLA ; ASLA President Dennis Carmichael, FASLA; Potomac Chapter President Heather Hammatt, ASLA; Jeff Lee, ASLA; Potomac Chapter Trustee Faye Harwell, ASLA; Potomac Chapter President-Elect Lisa DelPlace, ASLA; (seated) ASLA Executive Vice President Nancy Somerville and Sunny Scully, FASLA. Photo: ASLA

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has joined the ACE Mentor Program as a national sponsor and partner. ASLA will work with the ACE program to introduce high school students to career opportunities in landscape architecture and other design and construction professions.

The partnership was announced at a luncheon today at ASLA headquarters in Washington, DC, attended by leaders of the ASLA Potomac Chapter and the ACE Washington, DC, chapter. The ACE program targets young adults to introduce them to the challenges and rewards of a career in the design and construction industry and makes a special effort to reach out to minority and underserved populations. Pamela Mullender, executive director of the ACE Mentor Program, was on hand to launch the program in partnership with ASLA.

“One of the key factors that makes ACE stand out from other high school mentoring programs is its approach to the construction industry as a whole,” said Mullender. “This partnership with ASLA further strengthens ACE’s mission which is to introduce students to all aspects of the design and building professions. ASLA’s commitment to ACE and to America’s youth is one more step to achieving that goal.”

Nancy Somerville, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA, noted, “Landscape architects are in demand and we want to grow the profession and increase its diversity. The ACE Mentor Program will provide our members with opportunities to reach out as mentors, give back to their communities, and shape the future of the profession."