Director of Horticulture and Operations
mvp6221@psu.edu
Marek joined the Arboretum in April 2023 as its director of horticulture and operations. He holds a bachelor of science degree in horticulture and landscape design from the State University of New York, Farmingdale. His fifteen-year career in public horticulture, arboriculture, and operations of public spaces reflects his passion. Immediately before Penn State, he was grounds department head at Saint Joseph’s University and the Barnes Arboretum in Philadelphia. Prior to that, he spent seven years working for the High Line in New York City as its urban forestry supervisor, overseeing the woody-plant collection and tree installation during construction of two new sections.
Marek’s other work experiences include landscape design, plant merchandising, and facility operations. Collaboration with colleagues and a genuine curiosity are at the root of his professional ethos. Resourcefulness and utilitarian preservation of nature were ingrained during his early years living in Slovakia. Marek is a first-generation college graduate and American. He is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist.