Meet Ken Byrne, Priscilla Novitt, and Kara Schnell, Co-Directors of the Conway School of Landscape Design! In operation for over half a century, the school works to teach and practice ecologically and socially sustainable land design.
Tell us a bit about the school and its mission: Founded in 1972 by landscape architect Walter Cudnohufsky, the Conway School grew out of his belief that design education should be grounded in real-world experience rather than abstract theory. He envisioned a different kind of graduate program—one where students learn through collaboration, hands-on work, and real projects for real clients.
Priscilla Novitt, Ken Byrne, and Kara Schnell
Today, the Conway School is a small, independent nonprofit graduate school in Northampton, offering a ten-month Master of Science in Ecological Design program. Each year, a cohort of up to eighteen students works collaboratively with real clients—including municipalities, nonprofits, tribal organizations, community groups, and individual landowners—on projects focused on a range of topics including climate resilience and adaption, habitat conservation, housing, and equitable food systems.
Our mission is to teach and practice design of the land that is ecologically and socially sustainable. Students gain the skills to become ecological designers and planners while helping community partners envision practical, thoughtful solutions to the challenges they face. Since 1972, Conway students have completed more than 1,450 design and planning projects for communities and individual clients across New England and beyond.
What is a recent project the school is proud of? We are proud of all our projects! But to mention just one: This past winter, the Conway School partnered with the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, to help inform an update to its Housing Production Plan. Like many towns, Deerfield faces an important challenge: how to expand housing opportunities while protecting natural resources and preserving the rural and agricultural character that residents value. A team of Conway students analyzed local housing needs and developed strategies the town may implement moving forward.
Projects like this demonstrate what makes a Conway education distinctive. Students learn by addressing real-world challenges alongside community partners, producing work that can inform local decision-making while gaining the hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in ecological design and planning.
Any exciting plans for the future? We’re excited to continue preparing the next generation of ecological designers and planners while partnering with communities throughout the region and beyond. From housing and land-use planning to climate resilience and conservation, our projects help communities make informed decisions about the places they live, work, and care for.
As environmental and social challenges grow more complex, communities need people who can connect ecological understanding, creative problem-solving, and community priorities. Conway’s graduates are already putting those skills to work in a wide range of fields and we look forward to seeing their impact grow.
We’re proud to call Northampton home and to be part of a regional community working toward a more resilient and sustainable future.
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