Event Date
UC Davis Arboretum & Public Gardens:
Responding to COVID-19 Presentation
Join the UC Davis Retiree Center for another exciting presentation from our campus partner, the Arboretum.
Like many at UC Davis this spring, the Arboretum and Public Garden (APG) had to get creative as the university moved to suspended operations at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. Learn how the APG was able to quickly adapt its student leadership program, Learning by Leading™, into a virtual leadership internship program for spring quarter. Additionally, learn how the staff worked to address other challenges such as keeping the Arboretum and other campus landscapes open to the public while its staff transitioned from full operations, to suspended operations and finally back to limited operations. The APG staff will also look forward to sharing some of their plans for the coming year.
About the Presenters:
Kathleen Socolofsky, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director
Starting as director of the UC Davis Arboretum in 1998, Kathleen’s responsibilities expanded in 2011 to transition the entire campus landscape into a public garden. She focuses on leveraging the diverse landscape assets of UC Davis to serve as engines for academic, student, and community engagement and to showcase best environmental practices. Kathleen has co-created a series of widely supported strategic initiatives that guide the work of the Arboretum and Public Garden and connect it to the academic enterprise, including the GATEways (Gardens, Arts, and The Environment) Project, the Learning by Leading™ student environmental leadership program, and the UC Davis Living Landscape Adaptation Plan to prepare the campus landscape for climate change. She is a nationally recognized innovator in the realms of environmental leadership, strategic planning, museum education, and public garden management.
Carmia Feldman, Assistant Director
A science educator by training, Carmia has led efforts in education, fundraising and community engagement across the Arboretum and Public Garden since 2001. She works closely with our team to grow our student environmental leadership program, Learning by Leading™, into an international model for other universities and public gardens. She also works with faculty and staff across UC Davis to develop GATEways projects and programs. She just completed a four-year term as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American Public Gardens Association, participating in national initiatives on leadership and diversity and inclusion.
Andrew Fulks, Assistant Director
Formally trained as a landscape architect, Andrew became the Director of the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve in 2002 and an Assistant Director of the Arboretum and Public Garden in 2014. Andrew focuses on leading the design, implementation, and stewardship of the outdoor spaces within the Arboretum and Public Garden and partnering with the campus and regional community on solutions to all facets of land management, from the day-to-day to long term visions. He is leading the development of the UC Davis Living Landscape Adaptation Plan with a primary focus on working to transform the campus tree canopy into one that is more resilient and adapted to the changing climate.
Emily Griswold, Director of GATEways Horticulture and Teaching Gardens
Working at the Arboretum and Public Garden as a student and then staff since 1995, Emily leads the GATEways Project through the creation and stewardship of engaging teaching landscapes in the Arboretum and on campus in partnership with faculty, staff, students, and community volunteers. Her focus is on the development of the Arboretum Environmental GATEway as a major visitor destination that will connect people with UC Davis’ deep expertise in biodiversity conservation and sustainable horticulture. An expert on oak diversity, she is excited to introduce new climate-ready trees to the campus canopy through the UC Davis Living Landscape Adaptation Plan.
Stacey Parker, GATEways Horticulturist
A recent addition to the senior leadership team, Stacey is spearheading a new strategic initiative to develop our Nature Rx program, which focuses on connecting people with the health and well-being benefits derived from gardening and spending time in nature. Building on a foundation of almost 20 years of experience in developing and leading horticultural experiential education programs, and working for eight years as a GATEways Horticulturist, Stacey is passionate about strengthening the Learning by Leading™ curriculum and empowering students with transferrable leadership skills that will prepare them for successful careers in environmental fields.
Suzanne Ullensvang, Resource Development Manager
Suzanne focuses on connecting community members with impactful ways to support the Arboretum and Public Garden. She is the primary staff liaison with our community support group, the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, and works closely with them to increase and leverage the significant volunteer and financial contributions of the Friends, Suzanne coordinates our annual giving programs including: Friends membership, our spring Give Day campaign, the annual appeal, tribute and memorial giving, donor stewardship events and other donor-focused activities to honor our many community supporters. She is currently planning for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden in 2021, a wonderful milestone for connecting with and inspiring everyone who has been touched by the Arboretum and Public Garden.