School of Planning, Design and Construction

Hi, I’m Allison Balderston, a Teaching Specialist in the Landscape Architecture program within the School of Planning, Design and Construction at Michigan State University. I joined the program in Fall 2025. Throughout my career, I have found the greatest fulfillment in collaboration and in supporting emerging professionals as they develop their voice and impact within the field. This passion ultimately drew me to MSU, teaching feels like a natural extension of my professional experience and an opportunity to help prepare the next generation of landscape architects.

Prior to joining MSU, I spent nearly ten years working at landscape architecture firms in Denver, Colorado, contributing to projects ranging from large-scale master plan communities to intimate healing gardens. My primary interests lie in site engineering and in how technical design knowledge is essential in creating landscapes that support ecological systems while enhancing people’s access to and experience of the environment. This technical expertise also strengthens collaboration, ultimately improving the overall success of projects. 

My transition to Michigan has been both an exciting professional and personal shift, allowing me to engage with a new ecological and social context. Along with accenting technical design knowledge, I also believe that connecting with one’s environment is essential to understanding both design and the design process. I have explored this connection through volunteering with the Huron River Watershed Council, helping collect data related to watershed pollution and public access to the river. Recently, I have also been developing a Michigan native pollinator cut-flower garden focused on creating floral arrangements that highlight the beauty of local landscapes while supporting pollinator habitats. Together, these personal endeavors reflect my belief that landscape architects have a responsibility to celebrate and strengthen the environments that surround us while balancing ecological health with social connection, relationships that continue to shape my approach to both practice and teaching.

I bring these experiences and passions, alongside my professional background, into the classroom. I aim to encourage students to actively engage with and enjoy their surroundings while recognizing the value of direct experience in the design process. I strive to foster a studio environment grounded in curiosity, experiential learning, and growing confidence. I encourage students to connect conceptual ideas with technical understanding, demonstrating how site systems and engineering decisions directly influence environmental performance, human experience, and the broader landscapes we inhabit. Understanding these connections helps students grow both as designers and as individuals.

Looking ahead, I hope to contribute to the program through collaborative studios, community-engaged work, and continued exploration of their environments. Outside of teaching, I enjoy exploring Michigan’s parks and outdoor spaces and continuing my interests in gardening and floral work. I’m grateful to be part of the MSU community and excited to grow alongside the program in the years ahead. My goal as an educator is to help students see landscapes not just as designed spaces, but as living systems they are part of, fostering curiosity, responsibility, and a lifelong connection to the environments they live in and shape.