Stephen W. Schneider, Associate of the Arnold Arboretum

As the director of operations, I oversaw the activities of the Public Programs, Horticulture, Plant Production, and Facilities departments of the Arnold Arboretum. I also curated and managed the Arboretum’s bonsai and penjing collection. Additionally, I endeavored to maintain effective working relationships with local, state, and federal government agencies, community organizations, and other University departments.

I began my career at the Arboretum as an intern while working towards a bachelor’s degree in biology at Northeastern University. After graduating, I joined the Arboretum staff as an apprentice and later became a full-time horticulturist. In 2004 I assumed responsibility for coordinating the Isabella Hunnewell Internship Program while acting as the assistant manager of horticulture, and began overseeing the entire horticulture maintenance operation as manager of horticulture in 2008. My tenure at the Arboretum afforded me the opportunity to lead and work with many of the departments that support our world-class collections of woody plants as well as the Arnold’s internship programs that help to prepare future generations for jobs in public horticulture.