Dr. Ellen Neises

Biography

Ellen Neises is an Associate Professor of Practice in Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania's Stuart Weitzman School of Design. She is also the Executive Director of PennPraxis, the nonprofit practice arm of the graduate school. Ellen's work focuses on climate action design, particularly addressing challenges that involve community collaboration, policy design, and public space infrastructure. She has led and collaborated on several high-profile climate action projects, including the Camden Coastal Resilience Plan, the Dakar Greenbelt Design Prospectus, and the Pittsburgh Strategic Water Plan. Ellen's work has garnered numerous accolades, including a National Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2020 and an AIA Award in 2019 for the team’s work on the Fourth Regional Plan. In 2020, she founded Design Thrive, a free youth program aimed at developing skills in climate action and advocacy. Before joining Penn, Ellen was an associate partner at James Corner Field Operations in New York, where she contributed to various ecological projects and community developments, including Fresh Kills Park and Muscota Marsh. Ellen holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.

Research Interests

Experience