Longwood Gardens Fellows Program: Building Public Horticulture Leadership Capacity

Since 1956, Longwood Gardens has trained and educated future generations of public horticulture professionals. With horticulture education evolving rapidly and the public garden profession facing new challenges, an innovative way to build leadership capacity is necessary. In June of 2017, Longwood will welcome the first cohort into the Longwood Gardens Fellows Program. This mission-based Program will integrate a 13-month immersive experience, leveraging the wealth of gardens in the Philadelphia region, with experiential learning opportunities delivered through collaborative group projects, case studies, externships, and salon-style meetings with leading industry professionals. The Fellows Program curriculum will include content areas such as strategic planning, board development, fundraising, human resources and non-profit management, succession planning, and other topics relevant to the daily operations of public gardens. Working as a cohort, Fellows will choose and complete a yearlong project that addresses a particular challenge facing the public horticulture profession, while being mentored by Longwood’s staff. A field placement to a partner garden will allow Fellows to experience first-hand the operations of another institution, while having a practical experience tailored to their personal interest and career goals. Highly motivated candidates at entry- and mid-level careers from across the United States and around the world are eligible to apply for this fully funded, residential program at Longwood Gardens. Recruitment for the Fellows Program will begin in summer of 2016 with an application deadline later this fall.