The Holden Arboretum Press Room

Holden Appoints Clement W. Hamilton as New President/CEO	Holden Arboretum Seeks Volunteers
Case Western Reserve University and The Holden Arboretum Sign Affiliation Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Stefanie Galbreath 440.946.4400 ext 157

Holden Arboretum Seeks Volunteers

Help enrich the life of children and adults this summer

Kirtland, OH – (March 12, 2008) – The Holden Arboretum is accepting applications for volunteers for the spring and summer months. This unique experience offers individuals the opportunity to share their knowledge and love of the outdoors. Holden understands that volunteers will commit a great deal of time and energy to Holden, but the rewards of this commitment are the satisfaction of helping others increase appreciation and understanding of horticulture and the natural world.

School Guide

Become a volunteer school guide and lead groups of curious children through Holden’s magical world of trails, ponds, fields and lush gardens. This is a great way to give to the community and treat yourself to a great outdoor experience this summer. All hands-on, this opportunity does not require lecturing, plus volunteers will share their experience with like-minded adults in a friendly and inviting atmosphere.

VIP Guide

Volunteer Interpreter Program guides enjoy leading tours on foot or by tram. Knowledge of horticulture and a love of the outdoors is a plus. Volunteers receive expert training on Holden gardens and collections. Share your love of nature with other like-minded adults in a warm and friendly setting.

All volunteers receive training and guidance from Holden experts. Training sessions begin in April for the spring and summer seasons. If you are looking for a fun and meaningful way to spend the warm months of Northeastern Ohio, Holden is the place to be. Applications for guides are being accepted now. For more information about volunteer opportunities at Holden contact Stefanie Galbreath, volunteer coordinator, at 440.946.4400, ext 157, today.

About The Holden Arboretum

Covering 3,500 acres and documenting more than 100,000 plants, Holden connects people with nature for inspiration and enjoyment, fosters learning and promotes conservation. Holden’s horticultural focus is on the documented collection of trees and shrubs, which are displayed in gardens accompanied by groundcovers and perennials, in themed collections and natural areas. A partner in the Greater Cleveland Biodiversity Alliance, Holden is a significant source of environmental and ecological research and conservation efforts.

Holden Appoints Clement W. Hamilton as New President/CEO

Former Morton Arboretum vice president brings public garden experience along with research and programming insight

Kirtland, Ohio, - January 28, 2008: The Holden Arboretum, one of the nation’s leaders in horticulture, conservation and research, announced today the appointment of its new president and chief executive officer, Clement “Clem” Hamilton, Ph.D. Hamilton comes to Holden from The Morton Arboretum in Chicago where he served as vice president of arboretum programs and director of research. He replaces John Sherwin Jr., Holden’s interim president and CEO and will take over all operations including the implementation of Holden’s master plan, completed in 2007.

With a career in horticulture spanning more than 30 years, Hamilton was instrumental in The Morton Arboretum’s 2007-2011 strategic plan and mission program planning. He also was influential in the integration of Morton’s research, education and collections programs, resulting in greater efficiency, visitor focus and a 60% attendance increase. Prior to Morton, Hamilton was executive director of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, Calif.

“We are very excited to bring on board a president with such a rich background in horticulture and management,” said Jonathan Dick, chairman of Holden’s Board of Directors. “Mr. Hamilton is the leader Holden needs to further its mission for the future.”

Hamilton has served on the board of numerous non-profits, including the executive council of the Chicago Wilderness and as vice-chair, Directors’ Advisory Council for the Center for Plant Conservation in St. Louis, Missouri.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from Harvard College and a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from Washington University and Missouri Botanical Garden.

Hamilton will begin his role as Holden’s president and CEO on March 31, 2008.

About The Holden Arboretum

Covering 3,500 acres and documenting more than 19,000 plants, Holden connects people with nature for inspiration and enjoyment, fosters learning and promotes conservation. Holden’s horticultural focus is on the documented collection of trees and shrubs, which are displayed in gardens accompanied by groundcovers and perennials, in themed collections and natural areas. On the National Register of Historic Places, Holden is a significant source of environmental and ecological research and conservation efforts.

Please note: The Holden Arboretum’s press room is online at www.holdenarb.org. For digital images or media inquiries please contact Daniel Rush, media coordinator, at 440.602.8012 or drush@holdenarb.org.

To build internationally recognized graduate research programs in plant sciences and ecology

CLEVELAND—Case Western Reserve University and The Holden Arboretum have entered a three-year renewable affiliation to create a highly competitive national and international graduate research program in plant sciences and ecology. This is the first affiliation agreement for Holden Arboretum.

President Barbara Snyder from Case Western Reserve University and Holden’s Interim President and CEO Jack Sherwin Jr. and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jonathan Dick signed the agreement, which leverages the strengths of each institution in building these graduate areas.

“This is an exciting time for The Holden Arboretum as we partner with one of the leading higher education institutions in the nation and forge a relationship that will provide students with the tools and skills needed to protect our delicate ecosystem,” said Sherwin.

Holden is home to 3,500 acres of land, with 25 ponds, over 17,000 accessioned plants, special collections of trees, gardens and natural areas.

Even though the arboretum has had a research program since 1991, the hiring in recent years of Mary Topa (Case Western Reserve University, B.A., biology, ’75) as the director of Science and Research in 2004 and three other scientists, has reinvigorated research efforts to build its science staff. The scientists have a program structured on understanding how plants and forests respond to urban-influenced disturbances created by both natural and human-induced stresses.

For its part, Case’s biology department has been developing an ecology program with the major themes of plant disturbance and Great Lakes ecology.

According to Joseph Koonce, professor and chair of the biology department, this is “a win-win” agreement for both institutions.

“Graduate students are the lifeblood of research at many college campuses,” said Topa. “The graduate students will be the bridge between our institutions, and the base for building a strong research program in plant sciences and ecology.” The research partnership is similar to ones that the New York Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden and Chicago Botanic Garden have with universities. Sarah Kyker, a current Case graduate student, has a research base at the arboretum.

“With the addition of Holden’s scientists we now have a critical mass of faculty for a plant sciences and ecology program,” said Koonce.

Without the agreement, Koonce said, it would cost millions of dollars to duplicate the resources at each institution. “We are judiciously using our resources by establishing this joint agreement,” he added. “Leveraging strengths against strengths, we are building a regionally important research program in ecology and plant sciences.”

Topa said the affiliation agreement will break down the isolation barrier for the arboretum’s scientists, 25 miles from the Case campus, and build an intellectual community for them through teaching graduate courses, attending seminars and providing access to thousands of scientific journals.

At Case, three biologists have interests that relate to developing graduate programs and collaborations with scientists at Holden. Koonce, who does research on Great Lakes watersheds, will study headwaters to the Chagrin River found among Holden’s streams and ponds. Paul Drewa and Robin Snyder, assistant professors of biology, have research related to plant disturbances. Drewa studies growth in some of Ohio’s oldest trees and forests and has collaborated with the Holden scientists. Christopher Cullis, a professor of biology, is a board member at the arboretum.

The arboretum scientists will join Case’s department of biology as adjunct faculty, advising and teaching graduate students. The first course on soil microbial processes by a Holden scientist will be offered in spring 2008. They will have access to a variety of Case library resources, like online journals, unavailable at the arboretum. The university will provide facilities on campus for its Holden scientists and also will administer Federal grants obtained by Holden scientists.

Holden will also provide onsite research facilities, both laboratory and field, at the arboretum for campus biologists and a Case graduate student.

Although individual Holden scientists have collaborations with researchers from Ohio University, University of Toledo, Kent State, Case Western Reserve, University of Pittsburgh, Baldwin-Wallace College, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Iowa State University, Ohio State University and the USDA Forest Service Laboratory in Delaware, Ohio, this affiliation is a more formalized, long-standing commitment between institutions.

In addition to The Holden Arboretum, the biology department works closely with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History where for the past several years it has held a Friday afternoon seminar for the museum staff and Case biologists and students. The department also has a collaboration with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, where three graduate students have research stations and work with zoo curators, who serve as adjunct faculty members in the department.

This newest affiliation expands the university’s partnerships with community and cultural arts organizations. Case’s College of Arts and Sciences just celebrated the 40^th anniversary of its affiliation with the Cleveland Museum of Art for graduate studies in art history and museum studies.

About Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case Western Reserve is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case Western Reserve offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.