Ron Henderson

Ron Henderson is a Professor of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism and Director of Research for the Alphawood Arboretum at Illinois Institute of Technology's College of Architecture. He coordinates the Second Year M.LA+U Studio and teaches courses in urban design, professional practice, and ecological design. His research explores the natural history of cities, equitable resource access, driverless vehicle navigation systems, and cultural landscapes of Asia.

He leads over $4 million in NSF-funded research and has authored books such as 30 Trees and The Gardens of Suzhou. His professional practice, LIRIO Landscape Architecture, designs award-winning cultural landscapes globally, including projects in Asia, Europe, and North America that have planted over 900,000 trees.

Recent publications focus on urban stormwater equity, driverless vehicle navigation integrity, and comparative studies of Chinese/Japanese gardens. His work bridges academic research with professional practice through interdisciplinary methods and community engagement.

• Research grants: NSF, Nayar Prize, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
• Professional affiliations: Director of Alphawood Arboretum, Fellow of ASLA
• Labs/teams: Alphawood Arboretum research initiatives, LIRIO collaborative projects