Charles Andrew Cole

Charles Andrew Cole is a Professor of Landscape Architecture and Ecology at Pennsylvania State University, where he integrates ecological principles into the landscape architecture curriculum. As Director of E+D: Ecology Plus Design, he leads an initiative focused on research-activated design, graduate education in ecologically-based design, and outreach through symposia, workshops, and publications. Cole also served as interim head of the Department of Landscape Architecture from January to July 2021.

Education:

• BS, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1981)
• MS, West Virginia University (1983)
• PhD, Southern Illinois University (1988)

Cole's research centers on restoration ecology, particularly in damaged wetland ecosystems. He studies the development and functional characteristics of created wetland ecosystems and how design decisions impact site and landscape ecology. His work emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between ecologists and designers to address complex environmental challenges at both site and regional scales.

At Penn State, Cole actively participates in the Ecology Graduate Degree Program and serves on multiple committees, including the Graduate School and the Arboretum Advisory Committee. His teaching includes foundational ecology and plant identification courses, as well as seminars in restoration ecology and watershed stewardship, where he assists students in applying ecological principles to design studios.