Mahsa Adib

Mahsa Adib serves as an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture within the School of Planning, Design and Construction at Michigan State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Architecture with a Landscape Architecture focus from Pennsylvania State University in 2025, alongside multiple advanced degrees in landscape architecture and environmental engineering. Her academic journey spans institutions in Iran and the United States, establishing a strong foundation for her interdisciplinary research.

Her educational qualifications are:

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
• Master of Landscape Architecture, Iowa State University
• Master of Science in Landscape Architecture, Pennsylvania State University
• Ph.D. in Architecture (Landscape Architecture Focus), Pennsylvania State University, 2025

Adib's research program tackles pressing environmental challenges through the lens of landscape architecture. She investigates the social and psychological dimensions of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) adoption, critically evaluates public education materials for GSI implementation, and pioneers hybrid community engagement methodologies to build resilience against climate uncertainties. Her work extends into thermal inequities in urban environments, prescribed fire management, and public perceptions of biodiverse landscapes, reflecting a commitment to equitable and sustainable urban futures.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards:

• 2025 Penn State Alumni Association Dissertation Award
• 2024 Penn State Stuckman School Excellence Award for Service
• 2024 Stuckman School Diversity and Inclusion Fellow
• 2019 Penn State Department of Landscape Architecture Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
• 2019 ASLA Iowa Chapter Student Merit Award
• 2019 Landscape Architecture Foundation Olmsted Scholar

Adib actively participates in major research initiatives, including the $25-million Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (BSEC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (2022-2027), where she collaborates with Johns Hopkins, Penn State, Morgan State, and other institutions to address climate vulnerabilities in Baltimore. Previously, she contributed to Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning program, facilitating participatory planning with rural communities, landscape architects, and the Iowa Department of Transportation to develop sustainable infrastructure projects. Her grant-funded work emphasizes community-driven solutions and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Through her research and outreach, Adib fosters partnerships that bridge academic expertise with community needs, ensuring that landscape architectural interventions are both scientifically robust and socially responsive.