Dr. Wonmin sohn

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

Steve Jobs

Dr. Wonmin Sohn is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan and an Adjunct Faculty member in the School of Planning, Design and Construction at Michigan State University. Before joining SEAS, she served as Program Director of the Master of Environmental Design program at Michigan State University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Landscape Architecture from Seoul National University in 2011 and earned her MLA and Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Sciences in 2015 and 2019, respectively, both from Texas A&M University. With a robust background in landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, GIS, and hydrologic modeling, Dr. Sohn brings diverse expertise to her research and teaching activities.

Her research focuses on enhancing the performance of nature-based systems and developing resilient community frameworks for effective climate adaptation, utilizing geospatial analytic technologies. Dr. Sohn has spearheaded and contributed to multiple projects funded by public and non-profit entities, including the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA).

Her ability to foster interdisciplinary collaborations has significantly increased her scholarly output, allowing her to work effectively across diverse fields such as environmental engineering, geography, horticulture, and urban planning. Dr. Sohn's work has been recognized with over 20 honors and awards. Distinguished among these are the 2024 CELA Excellence in Research and Creative Work Award at the Junior level, the 2023 President’s Award from the National Association of State Park Directors, and multiple CELA Academy of Fellows Outstanding Poster Awards received since 2016.

Dr. Sohn is also an active member of several key international and national committees, including serving as the CELA co-chair of the Urban Design Track and as a Michigan State Board Member at Large on the Sigma Lambda Alpha Executive Committee.