Alison B. Hirsch is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California's School of Architecture, specializing in landscape architecture. She earned her Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and has advanced her career through research and practice focusing on cultural landscapes, spatial politics, and participatory design methods. As the Director of the Landscape Architecture + Urbanism program from 2019 to 2023, she established the Landscape Justice Initiative to address environmental and social justice issues related to spatial climates. Her work particularly investigates working landscapes in California’s Great Central Valley and addresses the socio-environmental challenges created by industrial agriculture. Alison has received several prestigious fellowships and grants for her innovative contributions, including projects highlighting Black self-determination in rural community landscapes. A coherent voice in landscape architecture theory, her publications include critical analyses and essays contributing to the understanding of cultural practices in design. She has taught at various esteemed institutions and continues to engage in community-focused projects, emphasizing the intersection of design, history, and environmental ethics.
University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA
Teaches landscape architecture theory and design.
Landscape Architecture + Urbanism Program, USC • Los Angeles, CA
Oversaw the Landscape Architecture + Urbanism program and established the Landscape Justice Initiative.