CELA honors Artunç with President’s Award
Sadik Artunç
A Mississippi State University professor and landscape architecture department head was honored for achievement by a premier international organization dedicated to supporting higher education in the landscape architecture field.
Sadik Artunç received the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) President’s Award at the 2022 annual conference.
Artunç’s membership with CELA began when he started his career as an educator over thirty years ago. He served a three-year presidency term with CELA beginning in 2019, holding the titles of president-elect, president and past-president.
“In my presidency, which occurred at the height of the pandemic, I set out to accomplish three pivotal things,” said Artunç. “I sought to make the organization more accessible, accountable and increase achievement, which includes establishing a scholarship for landscape architecture students.”
At the 2022 annual conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Artunç received certificates of achievements for his service as president and was then awarded the organization’s highest honor -- CELA President’s Award.
“This award does not have an application process. Nominations are given by the executive committee and the president selects a winner with the approval of the committee. I was shocked, because I am a member of the executive committee, so they met separately to select me for this honor,” Artunç said.
Artunç is one of 16 members in CELA’s history to receive this award. Recipients must demonstrate a dedication to the organization and the organization’s mission statement of encouraging, supporting and furthering education the teaching, research, scholarship and public service of landscape architecture. In addition to his service to CELA, Artunç has worked as an MSU landscape architecture faculty member for 15 years, motivating and inspiring students and peers alike.
CELA is an international organization with over 1500 members. In the United States alone, 98 college and university landscape architecture departments hold a membership with CELA. Their work not only advocates for landscape architecture educators, but also advocates for equality in their field through scholarship and mentorship programs.
“I did not do this alone. I could not have succeeded in my presidency without the help of others, and I am honored to receive this award for my success and contributions to upholding our mission statement,” he said.
For more information on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Landscape Architecture, visit www.lalc.msstate.edu. For more information about CELA, visit https://thecela.org.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
Kathleen Forman | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing
