Biography

I have always been interested in plants, but my enthusiasm was catalyzed by my first summer job as a horticulture research assistant at Guelph University. Since then I have gradually added to my plant knowledge. After graduating from Cornell University, I worked as a shared technician for two Cornell Department of Horticulture faculty, Ken Mudge in agroforestry and Neil Mattson in floriculture. This work enabled me to explore a wide range of interesting subjects from forest farming gourmet mushrooms, to greenhouse care of herbaceous annuals, to tissue-culturing orchids. In 2011 I worked with the Worcester Asian longhorn beetle (ALB) eradication project, and spent a brief period as a transmission utility forester. My work experience thus far leads me to anticipate a career in the public gardens field.
My relationship with the Arnold Arboretum started in 2011 as a volunteer for the visitor’s education department then progress to the horticulture apprentice in 2012 and a year later became a full-time horticulturist. Now-a-days I have progressed to become the assistant manager of horticulture to oversee the Arboretum’s internship programs and IPM program along with helping out with the day-to-day horticulture operations.
Education
MA, Sustainability and Environmental Management
Harvard Extension
BS, Plant Science
Cornell University
Certificates
International Society of Arborists certification (ISA) (Massachusetts)
Massachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA) (Massachusetts)
Licenses
Commercial Pesticide License (Massachusetts )
Hoisting License (Massachusetts )