Conway School of Landscape Design-Link to home map of Conway, MA Graduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning and Design
 

Administration

Paul Cawood Hellmund

  • PhD (candidate), Wageningen University, The Netherlands (2004-present)
  • MLA, Harvard Graduate School of Design (1983)
  • BS, Landscape Horticulture/Design, Colorado State University (1977)

Paul Cawood Hellmund became director and core faculty member at Conway in 2005. Paul is a Panama-born educator and practitioner, a full member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a member of the United States International Association of Landscape Ecology, and a member of the Society for Ecological Restoration.

The focus of his design, research, practice, and teaching is improving the relationship between people and nature, especially in urban, suburban, and degraded landscapes. Paul is co-author of Designing Greenways (2006) and he co-edited the 1993 book, Ecology of Greenways, which was recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects with a national award. He also was principal author of Colorado State Parks’ widely circulated “Planning Trails with Wildlife in Mind.”

He sees finding a balance between nature and people as a key factor in creating sustainable communities and he seeks collaborative design as essential to progress in sustainability.

Paul has taught undergraduate and graduate students of landscape architecture in courses in sustainable design, landscape ecology, environmental analysis, and landscape planning, and organized interdisciplinary projects exploring various aspects of protected areas planning in the U.S. and abroad. He formerly taught at Colorado State University, Virginia Tech, and Harvard University.

Most recently Paul had his own private practice, Hellmund Associates, prior to which he worked for Design Workshop, HOH Associates, and the U.S. National Park Service. His major projects, extending over several years, were the management plan for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and various aspects of the Chatfield Basin Conservation Network.

Nancy E. Braxton
Director of Admissions

  • JD, Harvard Law School, 1969
  • BA, English, Swarthmore College, 1963
  • Fulbright Fellowship, India, 1963-1965

Nancy BraxtonJoining the Conway staff in 2001, Nancy came with a background in administration and development for educational and non-profit institutions in New York City and Amherst, MA. She also practiced law and offered legal education and mediation services in Boston and Amherst for 20 years, and taught legal studies and women’s studies at the University of Massachusetts.

At Conway, Nancy serves as the admissions coordinator, has oversight of Conway publications, and provides a range of administrative support. Her commitment to Conway’s environmental mission and its collaborative and applied educational model inspire her work at the school.

Please contact Nancy to arrange a visit to the school or with any admissions questions!

David Nordstrom
Associate Director of Student Services, Finance & Facilities

  • BS; Business Management, Westfield State College (1995)
  • MALD; Conway School of Landscape Design (2004)

David NordstromDave '04 joined Conway as a full-time staff member in 2007. Originally from the Boston area, he worked in the accounting field for 20 years for several corporations in New England before studying at Conway. After graduating, Dave split his time working with a local landscape design and installation company, preparing community development block grant applications for an area consulting firm, and handling the accounting and facilities duties at Conway. Currently, in addition to responsibility for the accounting functions of the school, Dave is in charge of student services (including financial aid), student project development and coordination, and facility and grounds maintenance and improvements.