Benjamin Johnson
BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 7, 2010 – Benjamin Johnson, professor of landscape architecture in the School of Architecture + Design in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “professor emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1972, Johnson is considered the founding father of the university’s landscape architecture program.
Johnson was the landscape architecture faculty leader for each Solar Decathlon and worked diligently with colleagues and students to ensure collaborative work at the highest level. He also contributed substantially to the success of the exchange program with Tongji University in Shanghai, China, by mentoring many of the Tongji exchange students. And he worked to secure outside funding and grants to provide Virginia Tech students with significant educational and professional opportunities.
He contributed to the advancement of the landscape architecture profession and to the reputation of Virginia Tech’s landscape architecture program by serving as president of the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Johnson received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Harvard University.
Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies is composed of four schools: the School of Architecture + Design, including architecture, industrial design, interior design and landscape architecture; the School of Public and International Affairs, including urban affairs and planning, public administration and policy and government and international affairs; the Myers-Lawson School of Construction, which includes building construction in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and construction engineering management in the College of Engineering; and the School of the Visual Arts, including programs in studio art, visual communication and art history.