About the Arboretum Committee

Arboretum Committee Mission Statement

The Arboretum Committee (AC) helps to protect, promote, catalogue and manage the most spectacular natural resources on the Storrs Campus, the trees and shrubs.

History

The AC was founded in the mid-1980s, building on the concept of the 'campus as arboretum' first developed by horticulture professor Alfred G. Gulley in 1894, by David Schroeder (Natural Resources Management and Engineering, now called Natural Resources and the Environment) and Gregory Anderson (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology). It emanated from the deep interest of Faculty (notably Ed Corbett, Carol Auer, Mark Brand, Kristen Schwab) and Staff (particularly Bryan Krystof, Pat Zugerber-Meisterling and Les Mehrhoff) in cataloguing and protecting the trees and shrubs on campus. The AC grew steadily with interested parties from across campus joining the effort and was first recognized in 2005 by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Buildings and Grounds Committee, on behalf of the Provost– to whom the Committee initially reported. Subsequently, in 2010, the reporting line was transferred to the office of the Chief Operating Officer, where the MOU was reaffirmed via email correspondence. By 2011, the AC had expanded to over 30 members, including undergraduate and graduate students. Thirteen years later, the Provost's office renewed its support for the AC and signed a new MOU. The AC is chaired by Gregory Anderson and Mark Brand, working closely and collaboratively with colleagues and other members of the full committee.

Leadership

Gregory J. Anderson
Gregory J. Anderson

Co-Chair and Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Research interests in systematics and evolution of vascular plants, especially tropical Nightshades; evolution of pollination and reproductive systems, especially of island plants; evolution of domesticated plants in Latin America; ethnobotany. One relevant hobby is growing unusual woody plants.

Mark H. Brand
Mark H. Brand

Co-Chair and Professor of Horticulture. Research interests in woody plant genetics and breeding, especially development of sterile forms of invasive ornamentals, native shrubs and the nutraceutical fruit crop aroniaberry. Also teaches courses in woody landscape plants, plant propagation and plant tissue culture.

Ex officio: Anne D’Alleva

Provost and Executive VP for Academic Affairs

Committee Members

Dr. Cynthia Jones

NatureRx Director and Professor Emeritus, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Eileen McHugh

Senior Project Manager, Landscape Architect & Tree Warden, University Planning, Design and Construction

Matt Opel

Research Laboratory Aide, Bioconservatory, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Noorpreet Kaur

PhD Candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Dr. Charles Henry

Faculty Emeritus, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Frederick Pettit

Greenhouse Plant Growth Facilities Manager Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

Dr. Cynnamon Dobbs-Brown

Assistant Professor, Natural Resources and the Environment

Dr. Richard Brown

Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of History

Wesley Ayers III

Landscape Manager, Facility Operations

Lon Hultgren

Transportation Advisory Committee Chair, Town of Mansfield

Nick McIntosh

Computer Support Technician, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Andy Zhang

Sustainability Intern, Office of Sustainability

Virge Kask

Scientific Illustrator (Retired), Biology

Interested in Joining the Committee?

If you'd like to be considered on the Committee, please use the Contact form linked above and tell us why.

Sean Vasington PLA, ASLA

Director of Site Planning & University Landscape Architect, University Planning, Design and Construction

Dr. Jill L Wegrzyn

Assistant Research Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ian Dann

Senior Project Manager & Landscape Architect, University Planning, Design and Construction

Amanda McCard

Sustainability Intern, Office of Sustainability

Sarah Taylor

Herbarium Collections Manager, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Dr. Sydney Everhart

Department Head & Associate Professor, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture

Patrick McKee

Interim Director of the Office of Sustainability

Aris Ristau

Director of Building Services, Facility Operations, Stamford Campus

Meghan Moriarty

Plant Growth Facilities Manager, UConn Botanical Conservatory

Stephanie Reitz

University Spokesperson & Manager of Media Relations

Travis Clark

Research Farm Facilities Manager, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture

Brian Murray

Arborist, Facilities Operations

Discover the Arboretum

Trees in the UConn News