Longwood Gardens launches Fellows program

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. -- Longwood Gardens, whose influence on American horticulture is seen through its vast education curricula, has launched the new Longwood Fellows Program. This program is the evolution of the Longwood Graduate Program, and focuses on building the leadership capacity of high-potential public horticulture professionals. Interested individuals should visit www.longwoodgardens.org/longwood-fellows for more information. Applications will be available August 1.  

The Longwood Fellows Program focuses on grounding Fellows in leadership theory and practice through an immersive, flexible, concentrated program that draws on the experience and knowledge of multiple public horticultural organizations and academic thought leaders.

During the 13-month, fully funded, cohort-based residency at Longwood, Fellows delve into topical issues relevant to public horticulture today such as leadership, board relations and governance, communication skills, change management, innovation, and HR/talent management.  A two-month international field placement provides a deeper understanding of these issues, equipping Fellows to lead organizations into a vibrant and sustainable future. Alumni of the Fellows Program join the prestigious Society of Fellows, a global network of public garden professionals.

"Our founder, Pierre S. du Pont, was a visionary business leader and had a desire to establish a school where students would receive education in the art of horticulture," said Paul B. Redman, executive director of Longwood Gardens. "Since 1967, thousands of students from all over the world have participated in our education programs and have gone on to leadership roles in many of the world's top horticultural institutions. This new Fellows Program carries with it the legacy of its beginnings, with a consciousness of the fast-growing demands on leaders in our industry."

Longwood worked collaboratively with the world's leading horticulture and education professionals to create the framework for the program.

Applications will be available on Aug. 1 and are due Nov. 1. The program begins in June 2017.  It is open to global professionals who hold a bachelor's degree and possess a strong desire to lead in a public horticulture environment. Masters and doctoral candidates from domestic and international universities, and those who may be transitioning between careers are welcome to apply. To learn more, visit www.longwoodgardens.org/longwood-fellows.   

Dr. Tamara C. Fleming to lead Fellows program
Longwood has appointed Dr. Tamara C. Fleming as the new director of the Fellows Program. Previously, Fleming served as director of the Center for Leadership Excellence, which she helped to establish in 2012 at the University of Virginia. Prior to becoming director, she served as the learning and development manager for the university, where she was responsible for the staff leadership development programs. Fleming earned her Doctor of Education in Human and Organizational Learning from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and her Master of Arts in English from George Mason University.

Photo: Matt McClellan