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Staff

*part-time

Andrew Adams

Horticulture Manager

Andrew maintains UD's botanic gardens and plant collection, including the nursery stock for UDBG's plant sale. He also supervises UDBG's Summer Interns, training them for future jobs in the green industry. Andrew is a UD graduate with a B.S. in Plant and Soil Sciences and Agriculture and Natural Resources with a minor in Landscape Horticulture and Design. He worked at UDBG as an intern in the summer and fall of 2016 and collected urban forestry data for Dr. Tara Trammell in the summer of 2015. Andrew has eight years of experience working for his father’s landscaping business, where he honed his talent and skills for operating and repairing machinery.

Donna Gerst

Workshop Coordinator & Plant Sale Logistics

Donna assists with plant sale logistics, inventory management, events, and special projects. She is an educator for many of our workshops and is the lead for UDBG’s popular Holiday Store. Donna received her B.S. in Horticulture from Penn State and an M.S. in Public Horticulture Administration from UD’s Longwood Graduate Program. Prior to her decade plus time at UDBG, she worked at a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the Delaware Center for Horticulture, the American Public Garden Association, Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens (Houston, Texas). Donna also served 3 ½ years as a research extension agent with the Peace Corps stationed in Costa Rica. Following the Peace Corps, Donna served as an Environmental Scientist in the Superfund Enforcement Program at the EPA.

Lauren Kope

Director

With professional experience in both public and private gardens, Lauren enjoys connecting with many audiences over a shared love of plants. Prior to joining UDBG, Lauren worked as the Manager of Living Collections at Wyck Historic House and Gardens in Philadelphia and she is a graduate of the Longwood Gardens' Professional Horticulture Program. Lauren also worked as Head Gardener of a large private residence in Virginia and she has designed and maintained gardens for clients in Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. Lauren holds a B.S. in Agricultural Science from Virginia Tech and is currently working to complete her M.B.A. at the University of Delaware.

Emily Mox

Program Manager

Emily Mox, UDBG’s Program Manager, is originally from Newark, DE and has spent the last couple decades soaking up all the horticultural opportunities she can around the Philly area including working at Redbud Native Plant Nursery, Tyler Arboretum, and The Gardens at Mill Fleurs. Upon graduating from Longwood Gardens' Professional Horticulture Program, Emily completed her B.S. in Horticulture at Temple University and is also a NOFA Accredited Organic Landcare Professional. After running a design and build garden business for a number of years, she transitioned back into public horticulture working for the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College as Assistant Garden Supervisor.

Advisory Board