The Garden Scholars Program was created to promote leadership development in public gardens, identifying key people in our field to further their journey and support the Association’s Professional Development goal of “a roadmap to leadership at all levels.” Scholarships cover registration and reimbursement for related travel/lodging costs to attend an Association Annual Conference or Symposium. This program is supported by our Members, for our Members. The first scholarship recipients were selected and include fourteen individuals from thirteen member organizations. These scholars were selected due to their fields of interest and commitment to the public garden field.
Finance & Operations Symposium
Jose Leal, Office Manager, Houston Botanic Garden
Yuhui “Millie” Zhou, Financial Assistant, Arboretum at Penn State
2018 Annual Conference
The Leichtag Scholarship
Ashlee Armstrong, Grounds Manager, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
The Longwood Fellows Program Scholarship
Anna Lindquist, Garden Lead and Native Plant Specialist, Idaho Botanical Garden
The Kittleman Scholarship for Aspiring Public Garden Leaders
Naomi Fraga, PhD, Director of Conservation Program, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Christian Torres-Santana, Director of Arboretum Dona Ines Park, Fundacion Luis Munoz Marin
Garden Scholars
Nick Barton, Research Associate, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, U.S.
Amber Burke, Development Director, UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Jason Duvernay-Gaspar, Coordinator of Children's Garden Programs, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Ryan Gooch, Museum Education Learning by Leading Co-Coordinator, University of California Davis Arboretum and Public Gardens
Shawna Jones, Adult Education and Volunteer Coordinator, Santa Fe Botanical Garden
David Pease, Assistant Educator/Research Specialist II, University of Tennessee Gardens
Jehane Samaha, Graduate Student, University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
Jamie Samowitz, Director of Youth Outreach Education/Co-Director of Roots Rising, Berkshire Botanical Garden
