Julia Yost

Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Education Background: Environmental Studies and Landscape Design 

How did you get interested in your field?

I have been working in garden landscapes for most of my career, as both an educator and maintenance gardener, and have been progressively more interested in what makes good design for the human users, maintenance staff, and ecological agents in these spaces.  

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?

After graduating from my undergraduate degree at University of Oregon in 2017, I started working as a garden educator. I spent the next few years teaching kids and working outside in various gardens around Oregon. I thought I would go on to get my teaching credentials but ended up burning out during the pandemic. After that, I decided to become a full-time landscape gardener. So, I started a small business and got a Certificate in Landscape Design. I mostly come to this field with practical, on-the-ground experience! 

Why did you choose Penn?

I wanted a program that approached Landscape Architecture with an urban lens. Of all the programs I looked at, I got a very clear and real sense of the program from Penn. I had also spent a lot of time in Philadelphia when I was 18-19 years old and have always had a warm, soft spot in my heart for it. I’m so happy I’ve gotten to return and live in this city! 

What has been your favorite class so far?
I’m still in my first semester, but LARP 5330 Workshop 1 is such a fun and fulfilling class. Each week we have been exploring various landscapes from the coast of New Jersey to inland Pennsylvania. It’s been a really integral part of landing in this new environment and getting to know the local ecology and parks in the area. 

What do you like best about Philadelphia?

I love Philadelphia. It was a huge reason for choosing to attend Penn. It’s a really approachable city – walkable, convenient, friendly. One of the things that makes it so fun is that people are just normal and real. 

What are your career ambitions?

I think that there are a lot of preconceived ideas of what you might want to do coming into the program, but just within the first semester, my world has opened and expanded so much. For now, I’m staying open to any and all possibilities!