Landscape Architecture
Student Association
ABOUT US
The Landscape Architecture Student Association is comprised of elected graduate students from both Landscape Architecture program and the Dual Degree (MARCLA) program. We aim to improve student life by organizing social and educational events, offer academic opportunities, and connecting students at SALA. We also support students through access to resources and connections to professionals.
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Email us at ubclasa.info@gmail.com if you have any questions.
TEAM
Meet our 2023-2024 Team - a group of MLA and MARCLA students excited to meet you and support you in any way we can! Feel free to reach out to us via email or find us in studio to chat.
Hannah Dyck-Chan
CO-PRESIDENT
Hey there! I am currently in my 2nd year of the MLA program and am stoked to be sharing the role of co-president with Alastair. I originally hail from the snowy prairies of Winnipeg, Manitoba. I moved to Vancouver to do my undergraduate degree in Earth and Ocean Sciences, and later, a Bachelor of Education degree in the Education for Sustainability cohort.
Outside of the studio you can find enjoying the local outdoors on my bike and dilly dallying around the city in search for good food. I look forward to supporting our 1st year class in this first pivotal year of the MLA!
Alastair White
CO-PRESIDENT
Hello! I'm a 2nd year MLA student and I'm super excited to be your LASA co-president with Hannah this year! I grew up in the East Kootenays in Invermere and moved to Vancouver to do my undergrad in Wood Products here at UBC. When I'm not in school you can usually find me frolicking in the snow or gallivanting about the mountains.
My goal with LASA this year is to promote and foster a welcoming and engaging sense of community among the MLA and MARCLA students. Let's make this an awesome year!
Ema Di Fruscia
VP EXTERNAL
Hi there! I'm a second year MLA student from Oregon + California. I did my undergrad in Economics and worked in marketing before deciding to pursue landscape architecture. I'm new to design but have always loved making art and spending time outside, so I feel right at home here.
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As VP External, my goal is to foster exchanges and mutual understanding between students at SALA and the BCSLA.
Mikhayla Roht
TREASURER
Hello! I'm a 2nd year MLA student, and will be the new treasurer with Sophia. I grew up in the Kootenays and Toronto, and spent the last few years living on Vancouver Island. I did my undergrad at Emily Carr, where I studied photography.
My goal as treasurer is to run all the finances efficiently, to best support all the LASA activities!
Sophia Ngai
TREASURER
Hi everyone! I am one of the co-treasurers alongside Mikhayla this year. I grew up in Hong Kong and later moved to Toronto for school, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University. My passion for landscape architecture stems from my love of the outdoors and my interest in urban design and placemaking. As Treasurer, my goal is to manage our finances effectively to support all LASA events and functions.
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My aim as treasurer is to run our finances as efficiently and effectively as I can, to best facilitate the pursuit of my LASA teammates’ goals!
Diego Lozano
SOCIAL COORDINATOR
Hola! I'm a 2nd year MLA student from North Vancouver. I did my udnergrad here at UBC in the Geography Department majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a minor and GIS. Landscape architecture was the obvious next choice to try and combine my passions for nature and design.
When I'm not in studio I'll 100% be out riding my bike. I hope to be able to plan some great events for everyone in the year to come!
Eakin Sawada-Tse
SOCIAL COORDINATOR
Hi there! I'm a 2nd year MLA student from Port Coquitlam. I completed my undergraduate degree at UBC in Urban Forestry. Landscape architecture was a natural next step for me due to its unique blend of sustainability, space-making, and visual arts. Hand-drawing is my absolute best friend, as you can see in my profile photo!
It's awesome to be part of a fun, supportive, and creative community here at SALA. As a social coordinator, my goal is to build and continue to build that connection with incoming/continuing students through fun, engaging events. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions!
Tristan Jumeau
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Nice to meet you! My name is Tristan, I’m a 2nd year student here in the MARCLA program. I was born and raised in northwest England, but have lived in North America since 2018. First in Atlanta, Georgia, for my Bachelors and Masters in Geosciences, and now in Vancouver (luckily with citizenship through my Mum’s side wooo).
I’m loving life here at SALA and, alongside Tara, we’ll do our best to make sure you’re very much ‘healthy and well’ this upcoming year (mostly through sweet treats can’t lie). Do come say hi!
Tara Shahbazi
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Hey everyone! I’m a second-year landscape architecture student from Iran, and I come from an architecture background with both my undergrad and master's in that field. I decided to dive into landscape architecture to broaden my skills beyond just buildings!
When I'm not studying, I love doing yoga and meditation, reading books, and vibing to music with a good cup of coffee in hand. I'm here to help make your time at UBC and SALA better, both mentally and physically—don't forget how important you are!
Patricia Bueno
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Kamusta! I'm a 2nd year student in the MLA Program. I grew up in Rizal, Philippines and my family immigrated to Regina, Saskatchewan in 2015. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Regina in Visual Arts.​ Outside of SALA, I also take part at the UBC KABA Filipino Students' Association.
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When I'm not working on my LARC projects, I usually go on hikes, thrifting, doing illustrations plus game environment design, and also making designs for stickers and other merch!
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I love graphic designing and I'm really happy to share my skills with LASA!
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Leah Papillon
MARCLA REP
Hi! I'm a second year student in the MARCLA AP program. I studied architecture in Montreal before moving to Vancouver to work in landscape architecture. I love the intersectional possibilities of design, and the MARCLA program is a great way to explore them!
Bridgette Kelly
MARCLA REP
Hey hey, I’m a 2nd year student in the MARCLA program. I am originally from Toronto, and completed my undergraduate studies at OCADU in Environmental Design.
My goal is to connect our small MARCLA community to the greater body of SALA!
Elliot Bellis
GP REP
Why hello there! I'm a 3rd year MLA student who grew up just over the border in Washington State. I have a background in urban forest consulting with specialization in developing urban forest strategies and conducting municipal tree inventories. My current joys are connecting people with plants and fungi, backpacking, and cold dips at Jericho Beach.
My goal is to be an advocate for the third year MLA and MARCLA students to ensure voices are respected and heard. Come say hi if you see me around and don't forget to spend time with plants!
Naomi Wood
1ST YEAR REP
Hello! I’m a first-year student in the MLA program and am excited to be representing our cohort in the Student Association. I did my undergraduate studies in Land and Food Systems at UBC. Outside of school my hobbies include crocheting, reading, and running.
Kevin Jinn
1ST YEAR REP
Hi! I’m a first year in the MLA program and am co-rep with Naomi. I have worked professionally in managing a Landscape Design firm in Vancouver, promoting the use of native plants in the urban environment, and my undergrad is in Visual Arts at Simon Fraser University. I was also able to study Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, and seeing the Garry Oak ecosystem meadows of that landscape was a big part of where my passion for plants originates from. I am interested in horticulture, ecology and botany, with a focus on native plants and ecosystems of the world.
I enjoy sharing my passion for plants, landscape and gardening through teaching part-time and public speaking when I have the opportunity. I am a big naturalist and love learning about the different flora and fauna of every part of the world that I live in.