Austin Allen

Austin Allen is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Arlington, specializing in Landscape Architecture. His work focuses on urban environments, disaster recovery (notably in New Orleans and Haiti), and the intersection of race and landscape. He co-founded Design Jones LLC, recipients of the 2016 ASLA Community Service Award, and contributed to projects like the 2020 S.O.M. Foundation Award-winning study of North Texas settlements.

Education: PhD in Mass Communication (Ohio University, 1992), MA in Telecommunications Management (Ohio University, 1987), BA in Landscape Architecture (UC Berkeley, 1982), and AS in Urban Studies (Laney College, 1975).

Research interests include racial equity in urban design, post-disaster reconstruction, and the preservation of Black historical landscapes. His work critiques systemic inequities embedded in urban planning, such as 'The Racial Gaming of American Landscapes' in Black Landscapes Matter (2020).

He serves on the Landscape Architecture Foundation Board and the Olmsted Network's advisory council. Notable grants include a $40,000 SOM Foundation grant (2021–2022) for historic Black settlements and a $20,000 Dallas Regional Chamber grant (2021–2024) for design justice initiatives.

Teaching spans courses like 'History of Landscape Architecture' and 'Site Design,' with extensive graduate supervision via dissertation guidance in urban planning programs.