Omar Ba Yuosef

A self-proclaimed “average guy,” Omar Ba Yuosef has lived a life of fearlessness and adventure as he’s pursued his education and career prospects internationally. He grew up in a small village in Yemen farming wheat, vegetables, melon and pomegranates. Three hours away from the nearest city, he grew up without electricity until the village got on the grid and ditched the candlelight and kerosine lamps when he was 9. After attending university in Saudi Arabia for his undergraduate degree in architecture, he and his wife moved to Colorado to earn their master’s degrees.

Omar was introduced to the field of landscape architecture while interning with an architecture firm in Saudi Arabia. He was tasked with the landscape design for a residential project and his research—especially into Andalucian courtyard design—piqued his curiosity. Landscape architecture is an under-developed field in many countries abroad, and Omar was able to receive a scholarship through Hadhramout Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the education of young people from Yemen. He finds the field fascinating and is especially fulfilled when he gets to see a project through from concept sketches to construction document to a finished build.

He’s recently traded in his previous hobbies of soccer and hiking for the demands of being a dad. These days he spends most of his time at the playground with his family, navigating the newest addition to his 3-year-old son’s vocabulary: “No!”