Rui Zhu, an internationally recognized landscape designer and recipient of numerous state accolades, has been appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Texas Tech. The announcement was made by the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources. Zhu will begin her new role on September 1.
Zhu’s work spans urban regeneration, green infrastructure, landscape performance, and spatial analysis. “I’m passionate about transforming underutilized and vacant land into resilient, healthy, and vibrant spaces," she said.
“Joining Texas Tech is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with students and local communities in West Texas on innovative solutions for climate adaptation and sustainable urban regeneration,” Zhu added.
Before joining Texas Tech, Zhu served as a postdoctoral researcher, research assistant, and teaching assistant at Texas A&M University’s College of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning. Her research on environmental analysis methods earned her a 2023 “Top 10 Exceptional Papers” honor from Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry for developing a novel technique that expedites crude oil analysis.
In 2020, Zhu was awarded a national Honor Award in the Research Category by the American Society of Landscape Architects for her project, “Resilience Through Regeneration: The Economics of Repurposing Vacant Land with Green Infrastructure.” That same work also earned her a Certificate of Research Excellence from the Environmental Design Research Association.
Separately, she is co-editor of the book, Contemporary Landscape Performance Methods and Techniques: Lessons from the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, which was published in 2024
Her recognition includes ASLA-Texas Awards of Excellence (2020), Honor (2020, 2021), and Merit (2020, 2021) for student design. Zhu holds both master’s and doctoral degrees in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M, and a bachelor's degree in the discipline from Fujian Agriculture & Forestry University in China.
Texas Tech’s Department of Landscape Architecture, part of the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, offers accredited undergraduate (BLA) and graduate (MLA) degrees and is one of the premier programs in the region. With around 110 students enrolled as of Fall 2024 and a faculty of eight, the department boasts modern studio facilities, a historic renovated Livestock Pavilion, and strong community engagement in applied landscape architecture.
CONTACT: Leehu Loon, Professor and Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-5215 or Leehu.Loon@ttu.edu
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