Jamila dePeiza-Kern, Editorial and Production Assistant

As the editorial assistant for Arnoldia, I support the editor and work with contributors to guide them through the editorial and production process. In particular, I enjoy witnessing the journey a story takes—from seed to leaf to polished finished product.

I have a longstanding interest in urban green spaces and public horticulture, beginning with my childhood in Jamaica Plain, where I grew up next to a community garden and spent many happy hours at local parks, urban woods, and on the winding paths of the Arnold Arboretum. I graduated from Smith College in 2022, having spent all four years working at the college’s botanic garden—as an indoor educator as well as on the outdoor crew. Today, I continue to be passionate about exploring the connections between landscapes and people, and how to create and cultivate public green spaces that are equitable, accessible, and healthy for all.