Rate My Professor Christopher Seeger

Christopher J. Seeger is the Morrill Professor of Landscape Architecture and Extension Specialist in Landscape Architecture and Geospatial Technology in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University. He earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University in 1997, a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from North Dakota State University in 1995, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design with emphasis in Geographic Information Systems, Range Management, and Land Reclamation from North Dakota State University in 1995. Seeger holds Professional Landscape Architect licensure in Iowa (license number 444 since 2002) and Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional certification since 2008. His career at Iowa State University began in 1997 as Extension Program Specialist II and III, followed by roles as Lecturer/Adjunct/Temporary Professor and Assistant Researcher (1999–2003), Assistant Professor (2003–2011), Associate Professor (2011–2016), and Professor since 2016. Additionally, he owned and operated LandViz•Media L.L.C. as a digital design consultant from 2000 to 2017.

Seeger's academic interests center on landscape architecture and community design, participatory transportation and healthy community design, and data science and geospatial technology. He has directed initiatives including the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Indicators Program (2014–2022), Data Science for the Public Good Young Scholars Program (as Principal Investigator, 2022–present), and Multi-State Data Science for the Public Good Program (Co-Principal Investigator, 2020–2022). Notable contributions include developing the Iowans Walking Assessment Logistics Kit (I-WALK), Iowa Living Roadways Community Visioning Program, and Geospatial Technology Task Sheet Series (over 44,100 downloads since 2015). He has collaborated on over 210 community projects since 1999. Seeger has received the Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice (2022), multiple awards from the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects including Honor Awards in Planning & Analysis (2022, 2012) and Merit Awards in Research (2020), Communication (2008), and Excellence (2008), national awards from the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP, 2021, 2020), and others such as the American Planning Association National Planning Achievement Award (2013). Key publications include "Improving community walkability through university outreach, technology, and crowdsourcing" (2015, co-author Cindy Kendall), "Crowdsourcing Systems Information: Strategies Utilizing Technology to Involve Users in Pedestrian System Inventory and Analysis" (2014, co-author Julia Badenhope), "Emplaced Mapping and Narratives within the Participatory Planning Process" (2014), and "Facilitated-VGI, Smartphones and GeoDesign: Tools for Coalition Building and Community Infrastructure Mapping" (2014). Seeger has served on the Faculty Senate (2013–2019), Data Science Curriculum Committees (2017–present), Iowa Geographic Information Council (2000–2018), and State of Iowa Landscape Architecture Licensing Board (2007–2016, President 2014–2016). His work has enhanced community resilience, public health, and geospatial capacity through data-driven tools and participatory methods.