Danny Schissler, Head of Operations and Project Management

Biography

As Head of Operations and Project Management at the Arnold Arboretum, I lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for maintaining more than 100,000 square feet of facilities, including historic buildings, research laboratories, and greenhouses. I oversee facilities operations, capital projects, and campus security, while also serving as the leader of the Arboretum’s emergency management and sustainability programs.

Additionally, I collaborate closely with stakeholders across Harvard University, municipal and state agencies, and community organizations to plan and deliver large-scale infrastructure and strategic improvement projects that support the Arboretum’s mission, resilience, and long-term growth.

I am privileged to serve the Arboretum in its mission to steward equitable and sustainably managed park lands and scientific collections for the benefit of residents of the City of Boston and beyond. Each day, I am thankful to work alongside—and learn from—the most talented individuals in the fields of public horticulture and plant science.

Before beginning in my current role in 2021, I worked at the Arboretum as an intern in the Wolkovich Temporal Ecology Lab, an Isabella Welles Hunnewell horticultural intern, a seasonal gardener on the grounds crew, a research assistant in the Friedman Lab, and as associate project manager.

In my spare time, I enjoy running, bonsai, and hot sauce.