GUNDERSON ELEVATED to ‘FELLOW’
Photo credit: ASLA/Korey Davis Photography
Robert Gunderson (Bob), co-founder and principal of SGA Group, was recently elevated to ‘Fellow’ of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), at a special investiture ceremony during the annual Conference on Landscape Architecture, held this year in Minneapolis, MN, from October 27-30, 2023. Becoming a Fellow is one of the highest honors a member of ASLA can attain and is awarded for “exceptional contributions to landscape architecture and society at large.” Only about 2% of all members are honored by the designation of Fellow.
Mr. Gunderson was elevated to Fellow in the “Service” category, which is one of four categories a member can be nominated in. The other categories are “Works,” “Leadership/Management,” and “Knowledge.” The service category recognizes “volunteer service activities and accomplishments sustained over an extended period of time that have significantly advanced the art, stewardship, science, and social responsibility of the profession of landscape architecture in the eyes of the public, and that serve as examples for other local, regional, national, or international efforts.”
Bob has practiced across the United States, for over four decades, serving as a practitioner, advocate, academic, and military service member.
He has freely and consistently shared his expertise and leadership to the national and state ASLA and its partner organizations, and with the national Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), serving for five years as secretary, board member, committee member and candidate for president-elect. Mr. Gunderson also served on the 21-member Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design (AELSLAGID), for eight years, in elected leadership roles.
Bob taught landscape architecture as an adjunct associate professor for 28 years at the University of Minnesota College of Design, while concurrently serving as a liaison between the academic and practitioner community. His unique service, as a landscape architect in the U.S. Army over 31 years, earned him accolades and recognition for the profession of landscape architecture. Bob received the Bronze Star Medal (4th highest combat award) and the Meritorious Service Medal for time spent in Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq.
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