John Ellsworth

Biography

John Ellsworth received his Master of Landscape Architecture degree from USU in 1982. Following a brief period at the University of Idaho, he joined the LAEP faculty in 1985, where he has remained for the past 23 years. He has taught many courses within the department, served as Graduate Program Director for many years, and been named LAEP Advisor of the Year on numerous occasions. John retired from Utah State University in 2009. He also is the President and Senior Landscape Architect, of Ellsworth and Associates, Landscape Architects, Inc. (EALA), in Logan, Utah.

John is known for his expertise in the application of computer visual simulation technology to the assessment of landscape scenic beauty. He has been involved with many research and consulting projects using this technology to understand the impacts of proposed developments (such as highways, surface mines and energy projects, and recreation developments) on public lands. John was elected Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2004, in the category “knowledge” for accomplishments in visual resource management & visual simulation, and online distance education. John has been involved in many public and private sector projects including the “Design and Development of a Context-Sensitive Visual Resource Assessment and Management (VRAM) System for the Utah Department of Transportation” and “Master Planning for an Environmental Education Center (EEC) End-Use for the Logan City/Cache County Landfill and Surrounding Landscape”. He has received much recognition for his professional work, including 11 awards from the Utah Chapter of the ASLA.

His work photographing the wildfire areas of Yellowstone National Park from 1988 to the present has kept him busy presenting his photographs and conclusions to conferences and other audiences especially in the 20th year since the fires.