Leehu Loon, a distinguished landscape architecture educator and administrator from the University of Oklahoma, has been named a professor and chair of Texas Tech University's Department of Landscape Architecture, according to Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources officials. He officially stepped into his new teaching, research and administrative post on Aug. 1.

“Professor Loon embraces a bold vision of the future, and can bring out the best in people,” said Davis College Interim Dean Cindy Akers. “He will have a deep commitment to the work of the department, and its faculty and students.”

One of Loon's primary goals is to create opportunities for student-centered learning with engaged and enthusiastic faculty.  “I'm very excited to join the Davis College community and the Department of Landscape Architecture,” Loon said. “I look forward to working with the award-winning students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders of the department to collaboratively establish a vibrant future.” 

In the past his research program has broadly focused on community-based service-learning projects that connected landscape architecture students with communities throughout the state of Oklahoma. 

Prior to joining the Texas Tech faculty, Loon served as director of the Division of Landscape Architecture within the University of Oklahoma's Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture since 2014. In that position he initiated a graduate student recruitment plan that was focused on attracting outstanding students from diverse and underrepresented communities from all over the world

The Bexley, Ohio native also served as the Associate Dean for the Gibbs College of Architecture from 2016-2021. In that role, he worked closely with students, faculty, staff, and leadership of all seven programs in the college. Loon is also a licensed landscape architect who has practiced in Eugene, Oregon with Stangeland & Associates, and in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with Lewis Scully Gionet. 

Recent honors for Loon include the ‘Gibbs College of Architecture All-Around Administrator Award' for outstanding administrative leadership and service to the college (2019). He received his bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from The Ohio State University. His master's degree in landscape architecture is from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech). Loon is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.

As chair, Loon will oversee a department that enrolls about 80 undergraduates and nine graduate students with eight faculty members. The Department of Landscape Architecture, one of seven departments within Davis College, has a history of excellence in teaching programs that are accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects that lead to the Bachelor and Master of Landscape Architecture. The department has facilities in two buildings on campus: the Davis College Annex and a newly-renovated, historic Livestock Pavilion both featuring classroom and studio facilities.

CONTACT: Cindy Akers, Interim Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or cindy.akers@ttu.edu  

0803NM22