Ellen Neises

Ellen Neises is Associate Professor of Practice in Landscape Architecture and Executive Director of PennPraxis at the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design. She holds an MLA from University of Pennsylvania (2002, McHarg Prize recipient), MPP from Harvard University (1990), and BS from Carnegie Mellon University (1988).

Neises specializes in climate-resilient design and policy, notably co-leading the award-winning Hunts Point Lifelines project for post-Hurricane Sandy reconstruction. Her work integrates landscape architecture with hydrology, community engagement, and economic development strategies for vulnerable coastal cities.

Prior to Penn, she was Associate Partner at James Corner Field Operations, contributing to projects like Fresh Kills Park and Toronto's Lake Ontario Park. Her studios have won multiple design competitions focusing on arid lands agriculture, industrial communities, and urban water systems.