Jade Orr

Jade Orr is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture. Trained in Landscape Architecture, she holds a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) from the University of Southern California. Before undertaking a PhD in Geography, Planning and Design at the University of Colorado Denver – Jade worked in practice for several years with design and planning firms in Southern California. Jade’s research spans design, planning, and political theory, with a focus on the dynamics of power, control, and resistance in public space. In particular, her doctoral work examined landscapes and geographies of resistance, exploring how spatial design, legal geographies, and acts of resistance intersect within public spaces. She has co-authored several articles addressing the ongoing crisis of unhoused populations, with particular attention to spatial responses and how they intersect with issues of climate, community, and accessibility. This work considers possibilities for more just and equitable approaches by cities and localities. Her professional experience includes landscape design work throughout Southern California, where she worked on both municipal and residential projects.