2003 Distinguished Alumni College of Environmental Design Robert Cardoza '64, Landscape Architecture "When invited to the table, bring something to it."

Robert Cardoza graduated from Cal Poly Pomona's highly regarded College of Environmental design and has used his degree in a full career designing green spaces for public and private organizations.

"When I changed my career focus to landscape architecture, I found a lot of support and encouragement from within the department," Cardoza says. "Howard Boltz, Jere French and Chet Volski challenged me to experiment with design solutions that provided unexpected positive experiences, inspiring me with a creative sense to reach personal goals and design objectives. This outlook has continued to inspire participation in the creation of enjoyable spaces in a global context."

A landscape architect for the past 34 years, Cardoza has been a continuous resource for the university and the College of Environmental Design. He has helped raise scholarship money, juried and critiqued class projects, was a Professor for a Day, and brought his firm to career days on campus.

Cardoza has been active in Partners' Circle, the advisory board for his college. He and other landscape architect professionals founded the Landscape Architectural Foundation/California Landscape Architects Student Scholarship fund (LAF/CLASS), which has helped raise thousands of dollars for five universities, including Cal Poly Pomona.

In 1971, Cardoza co-founded NUVIS (an amalgam of the words "new vision"), a landscape architecture and planning business where he remains the company's CEO and president. NUVIS has received numerous design awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects, Building Industry of America, and California Parks and Recreation Society, among others. The company, headquartered in Costa Mesa, has designed projects in Mexico, Spain and Taiwan.

"When you love what you do, you share it with others, then joy is bought to your work," Cardoza says. "Look ahead to see beyond."

Future plans for the landscape architect include continued community service as well as keeping close ties to NUVIS.

"I am motivated by desire to utilize my professional skills to improve the quality of life, to mentor others to help themselves, and stay involved with my firm's business development."

Cardoza says his family, a positive outlook, and not giving up have helped him reach his goals. One of his sons, Perry, is also an alumnus of Cal Poly Pomona's landscape architecture program.