School of Architecture Professor Ebru Ozer Honored with International Teaching Award

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Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design and CARTA Director of Strategic Planning + Initiatives Ebru Ozer received the 2022 Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Excellence in Teaching Award, Senior Level. The award, which recognizes excellence in creative, innovative, and effective teaching methodologies and practice, was presented at the organization’s annual conference in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.

“I am humbled and honored by this international recognition,” said Ozer. “I feel like this award is also shared with my students, whose success is how I measure my own success. Without my students’ dedication and award-winning work, this recognition would not have been possible. I also feel fortunate to work at an institution that values, supports, and recognizes teaching scholarship.”

Ozer is committed to lifelong learning and continuously looks for opportunities for students to connect artistic expression with scientific knowledge.

“Use of an evidence-based approach that connects scientific knowledge to artistic expression, efforts to engage students in academic research, the inclusion of real-life practitioners in classroom teaching, and focusing on local problems by partnering with community organizations and leaders in tackling important regional issues are all integral components of my teaching method,” said Ozer. “To me, teaching is most effective when students can make the direct connection between the gained academic knowledge and their application in the practice world.”

The recent CELA nod adds to Ozer’s achievements academically and professionally since joining FIU. In 2015, she received the Faculty Senate Excellence in Teaching Award, in 2016, the CARTA Excellence in Teaching Award, and in 2020, the FIU Top Scholar in Teaching Scholarship Award.

“As the premier international organization for academics in landscape architecture, recognition by CELA is a remarkable accomplishment that recognizes Ebru Ozer’s rigorous and longstanding commitment to landscape architecture education,” says Roberto Rovira, Chair of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design. “Her approach and advocacy for education in the field of landscape architecture sets an important standard for our discipline in combining teaching, research/scholarly works, and service while delivering meaningful learning opportunities for students of all ages.”

“Serving our community is also one of my passions,” said Ozer. “I volunteer-teach high school students to introduce a younger generation to landscape architecture and spearhead pro-bono projects focusing on greening schoolyards.”

Ozer currently serves as the elected Vice President of Education at the American Society of Landscape Architects, working on initiatives related to higher education and accreditation.

The Landscape Architecture + Environmental Design department is one of three departments — Architecture and Interior Architecture – in the School of Architecture, which is ranked #16 among U.S. public institutions, according to the 2022 QS World Rankings by Subject report, and FIU LAEUD was #14 in the latest Design Intelligence’s Most Hired from Landscape Architecture School rankings.

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