Derek Lazo

Derek Lazo is a Lecturer in Summer Session at the University of California, Berkeley. He holds an MLA in Landscape Architecture from UC Berkeley and a BS in Environmental Studies from the University of Southern California. His work focuses on the intersection of landscape architecture with social issues, particularly uplifting disadvantaged communities through design.

His thesis research explored transforming Oakland’s public parks into emergency navigation centers for homeless populations. Lazo is affiliated with the Design As Protest Collective and Dark Matter University, an anti-racist pedagogical movement. He has professional experience with Bay Area landscape firms, most recently at SurfaceDesign, Inc., in San Francisco.

No scientific awards or academic grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. His advising activities and lab affiliations are not detailed here.