Fields donated by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will provide the space needed to create and study forest, barrens, and savanna communities.


Arboretum Staff


The director of The Arboretum at Penn State is appointed by the Provost. The director's principal responsibility is to coordinate the implementation of the Arboretum plan as approved by the Board of Trustees in March 1999. In doing so, the director works with an Advisory Committee, composed principally of faculty at Penn State, and reports to a Steering Committee of deans that is the overall governing body for the implementation of the plan. In addition to the director, the Arboretum is currently staffed with a full-time program assistant and a director of development.

As the staff grows, and the scope and complexity of the Arboretum's activities increases, the Arboretum has begun to solicit the help of non-University volunteers and community and industry representatives in roles such as docents, advisors, and board members.

Kim C. Steiner
Director
Email: steiner@psu.edu
Phone: (814) 865-9351
Fax: (814) 865-3725

Dr. Steiner, a professor of forest biology in the School of Forest Resources at Penn State, earned his bachelor of science degree in forest biology at Colorado State University, and his master of science and doctoral degree in forest genetics at Michigan State University.

In 1994, Dr. Steiner worked with others to create an Arboretum Task Force that resurrected and redirected plans for an Arboretum near the University Park campus. After becoming the chairman of that committee in fall 1995, Dr. Steiner provided academic direction to the development of the Arboretum plan by Sasaki Associates, Inc., a plan that was accepted by the Board of Trustees as a component of the University Park Master Plan.

Since being appointed as the Arboretum's director in October 1999, Dr. Steiner has worked with the University Administration, the Steering Committee, the Advisory Committee, staff in the Office of Physical Plant, and Arboretum volunteers to continue planning the development of a master plan for the botanic gardens, promote and coordinate research and outreach activities that serve the Arboretum mission, and inform the community and citizens of the Commonwealth about the vision for the future Arboretum.

One of Dr. Steiner's primary goals is to secure resources for its development through private donations, agency funding programs, and grants from foundations.

 

Kathleen K. Reeder
Event and Marketing Coordinator
Email: kkr1@psu.edu
Phone: (814) 865-9118
Fax: (814) 865-3725

Ms. Reeder holds a bachelor's degree in liberal arts (English) from Mansfield State College and a master's degree in liberal arts (English) from Penn State. Her previous positions have included program development and administrative planning with the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation and the Mid-State Employment and Training Consortium.

Her duties as marketing coordinator for the Arboretum include developing promotional materials, including the Web site, brochures, posters, and newsletters, creating marketing strategies, coordinating public relations, assisting with fund-raising activities, and preparing grants and proposals. As event coordinator, she is responsible for collaborating with other staff to develop and host special events, such as festivals, plant sales, garden shows, and art displays, and for renting spaces in the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens to the University and public for such activities as receptions, reunions, and weddings.

Mailing Address:
Kathleen K. Reeder
Event and Marketing Coordinator
The Arboretum at Penn State
The Pennsylvania State University
336 Forest Resources Building
University Park PA 16802-3604

 

Patrick J. Williams
Director of Development
Email: patrickwilliams@psu.edu
Phone: (814) 865-0441
Fax: (814) 865-3725

Mr. Williams holds a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation/leisure studies from Penn State. In his previous position as associate director of corporate and foundation relations, he worked to build corporate relationships between Penn State and Fortune 500 companies through research, recruiting, sponsorships, and philanthropy.

Hired in January 2008 as the Arboretum's director of development, Mr. Williams coordinates and manages fund-raising efforts.

Mailing Address:
Patrick J. Williams
Director of Development
The Arboretum at Penn State
The Pennsylvania State University
204 Forest Resources Building
University Park PA 16802-3604

 

Cathy Kennedy
Administrative Support Assistant
Email: czk3@psu.edu
Phone: (814) 867-2591
Fax: (814) 865-3725

Mailing Address:
Cathy Kennedy
The Arboretum at Penn State
The Pennsylvania State University
204 Forest Resources Building
University Park PA 16802-3604

 

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