Alumni of Honour Award 2025
Nancy Pollock-Ellwand Honoured with 2025 Alumni of Honour Award
The University of Guelph is proud to recognize Dr. Nancy Pollock-Ellwand (BLA ’78) as the recipient of the 2025 Alumni of Honour Award. A globally respected leader in cultural landscape conservation and heritage policy, Nancy has built a career defined by service and stewardship of both people and place.
Nancy began her journey at the University of Guelph as a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture student, where she developed a lifelong appreciation for how landscapes shape human experience. Her passion for design led her to a Master of Architecture at the University of Manitoba and ultimately to a PhD in Planning from the University of Waterloo. Her academic career has spanned continents, including teaching, research and leadership roles in Canada, Australia and the United States. She currently serves as dean and professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, where she has led with dedication since 2017.
At the core of Nancy’s work is a deep commitment to preserving and understanding cultural landscapes. Her research and teaching explore how history, design, and policy intersect to shape communities around the world. She has been a driving force behind international efforts to conserve heritage sites, holding leadership roles with the International Council on Monuments and Sites, UNESCO’s cultural agency, and contributing her expertise to global advisory panels, field missions and symposia. From Bhutan and Norway to Japan and northern Canada, Nancy’s work supports the protection of landscapes that carry deep cultural meaning.
Beyond the global stage, Nancy is also deeply engaged in her local community. In Tucson, she serves on the board of Patronato San Xavier, helping steward the conservation of the historic Mission San Xavier del Bac. Her leadership continues to influence future generations through innovative curriculum development, including courses in cultural landscape conservation and international field-based education.
Nancy has been recognized throughout her career for her contributions to education, research and practice. She is a fellow of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and a trustee of World Heritage USA. Her work has earned national and international awards, including multiple honors for her contributions to heritage communication and landscape history.
Dr. Nancy Pollock-Ellwand exemplifies the University of Guelph’s commitment to global citizenship, interdisciplinary excellence, and community leadership. Her work not only preserves the past, but it also builds pathways for a more thoughtful, inclusive, and resilient future.