Hope Goddard Iselin Fellowship in Public Horticulture Awarded to Leslie Touzeau

The American Public Gardens Association, in partnership with the Garden Club of America (GCA), announced Leslie Touzeau as this year’s prestigious GCA Hope Goddard Iselin Fellowship in Public Horticulture winners. The $5,000 fellowship was awarded during the Association’s 41^st Annual Conference held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in June of 2017.

Named for Hope Goddard Iselin, an early leader of the Garden Club of America, the fellowship is granted to a graduate student enrolled in a university public horticulture program within the United States.

Leslie Touzeau grew up in Columbia, Missouri, in a small house outside of town where she first developed a passion for gardening and cooking. After receiving her B.A. in art history and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, she worked for eight years as a vegetable farmer. This experience made her familiar with not only the production of food, but also the challenges of distribution and the significance of community development. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Rural Sociology and hopes to use her skills to promote positive food choices in rural and urban communities, lend support to minority farmers, and develop urban and community gardens in places with little access to healthy fruits and vegetables.

“We are proud to recognize the achievements of this exceptional emerging professional who’s proven her commitment to the field of public horticulture.”

-Casey Sclar, American Public Gardens Association, Executive Director

For information about the GCA fellowships and scholarships visit www.gcamerica.org/scholarships

About the American Public Gardens Association

Founded in 1940, the American Public Gardens Association has evolved to be the premiere association for public garden advocacy, education, innovation, and leadership in North America. With over 75 years of commitment to increasing cooperation and awareness among gardens, we have built a membership of nearly 600 institutions located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and 24 other countries. Its members include, but are not limited to, botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, museums, colleges and universities, display gardens, and research facilities. The American Public Gardens Association is committed to increased awareness and advancement of public gardens as a force for positive change in communities through leadership, advocacy and innovation. Visit www.publicgardens.org for more information.

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