Dr. Jessica Henson

Biography

Jessica Henson teaches design studios in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Southern California. As a Partner at OLIN, she leads planning design projects aiming to create socially and environmentally resilient infrastructure in the Los Angeles County area, including significant projects like the LA River Master Plan and the Rio Hondo Confluence Area Project. Her work focuses on the intricate relationships within hydrological, cultural, and social contexts, exploring how landscape architects can create anticipatory design solutions that promote equitable communities in both urban and rural settings. Henson has authored works such as 'Wet + Dry: Rethinking Mississippi River Cross-Section,' which examines the relationships between income, topography, flooding, and river dynamics in Upper Mississippi communities. She has also taught at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Pennsylvania. Henson is co-editor of 'Fresh Water: Design Research Inland Water Territories,' which delves into the shared hydrosocial histories of water issues affecting major inland watersheds in North America. Currently, she teaches the Landscape Architecture Design studio, where students are engaged in using landscape as a multi-benefit infrastructure to address urban systems and develop resilient futures.

Research Interests

Courses