She holds two master's degrees from the University of Southern California in both Landscape Architecture and Planning; and a bachelor degree in Landscape Architecture from the Université de Montréal. As a native French Canadian from Québec, Prof. Lavoie brings an international perspective to students. She investigates ideas in the realm of the urban cultural landscape, landscape theory and representation. She is interested in the theoretical frameworks that influence the design of urban spaces, and understanding the limitations of the normative design process.