Staff

Meet Our Staff

Kaitlyn Lawrence, Gardener, joined the staff in 2022. Prior to joining the Scott Arboretum, she was the Horticulturist Assistant/Foreman at David Brothers Landscape Services based in Norristown, Pa. She also worked at West Laurel Hill and Laurel Hill Cemeteries as a horticulturist from 2019-2020 and had the opportunity to assist with planning and leading events for volunteers. Kaitlyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and anthropology/sociology with a minor in food studies from Ursinus College. Upon graduation, she worked as a research assistant in the biology department of Ursinus College for a year, collecting and cataloging native grasses and planting crops at their organic farm. She interned at the Speaker’s House Museum in Trappe, Pennsylvania, where she designed and coordinated restoration of two pollinator gardens on historic sites. Kaitlyn is presently pursuing a horticulture certificate from the Barnes Arboretum at St. Joseph’s University.

Mackenzie Knight-Fochs returned to the Arboretum in 2022 as the Education Programs Manager. She previously served as the Education Intern from 2012 to 2014. She completed the Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture in 2016, receiving her Master’s in Public Horticulture. Prior to returning to the Arboretum, she worked for the Friends of Laurel Hill and at the Delaware Center for Horticulture. Mackenzie has her Bachelor’s in horticulture and life sciences communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Josh Coceano served as the Scott Intern from 2010 to 2012 and was then promoted to Horticulturist. Josh Coceano hails from Mt. Crawford, Virginia – a small town in the Shenandoah Valley. Josh is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelors in Horticulture and a Master of Science in Education. Other work experience includes internships with the Hahn Horticulture Gardens in Blacksburg, Virginia and Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, NY as well as time in the classroom teaching Agriculture Education classes to high school students and being a third grade classroom teacher.

Caitlin Anello, Member and Donor Programs Manager, joined the staff in 2023. Prior to Scott, she worked at Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She holds a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science in retail marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Prior to joining the staff in 2023 as a gardener, Beck Armstrong was the Assistant Manager in the Nursery/Perennials Department at Wedgewood Gardens in Glen Mills. She also worked as a farmhand at Anchor Run Farm CSA in Bucks County, a gardener at Roots Landscaping in Glen Mills, was a temporary gardener with The Scott Arboretum, and maintains many private gardens in the Philadelphia area. Beck completed a 3 month internship with Aprovecho Sustainability Research Center in Cottage Grove, Oregon, and a summer internship with the Scott Arboretum. Beck is presently pursuing a horticulture certificate from the Barnes Arboretum at St. Joseph’s University.

William R. Evans, Jr., Gardener, joined the staff in 1989. Prior to that he worked at Chessick’s Wholesale Greenhouses propagating poinsettias, and Wolff’s Apple House in plant sales, orchard pruning and harvesting.

Adam Glas, Gardener Supervisor, joined the staff in 2012. Before that, he worked as Nursery Manager at Terrain (at Styer’s) Nursery in Glen Mills. He was accepted into the Longwood Gardens Professional Gardener (PG) Training Program, completing that program in 2006. He currently serves as president for the PG Alumni Association and vice president of the board of managers at Chenoa Manor. He studied Horticulture and Landscape Design at University of Wisconsin River Falls.

Charles Hinkle, Gardener, joined the staff in 1998. Previously, he was a gardener at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia. He holds a B.S. in horticulture from Temple University.

Jeff Jabco, Director of Grounds and Coordinator of Horticulture, has been on staff since 1990. Before coming to Swarthmore, he worked for Penn State University Cooperative Extension as a horticulture agent in southeastern Pennsylvania; he also owned and operated a garden design and vegetable production business. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a master’s degree from North Carolina State University in Horticulture/Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology.

Shem Ruszczyk joined the staff in  2022 as Assistant Garden Supervisor.  Prior to joining the Scott Arboretum, he was Horticulturist at Hagley Museum and Library as well as Head Gardener Apprentice at Gravetye Manor in East Grinstead England. He is the owner of Canopy Horticulture, a fine gardening and land stewardship service for private clients. He is a graduate of the Professional Horticulture Program of Longwood Gardens and holds an Associates in Arts degree from Harrisburg Area Community College as well as currently serving as a board member for Goodstay Gardens at the University of Delaware’s Wilmington Campus.

Sue MacQueen joined the staff as the first campus engagement coordinator in  2017.  Prior to coming to the Arboretum she was the executive director of University City Green in West Philadelphia for eight years.  She also held the position of land manager at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown and was part of the horticultural staff at Meadowbrook Farms.  She has been an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist since 2010.  She graduated with a B.S. in Horticulture from Temple University, Ambler.

Andrew DeGothseir, Gardener, joined the staff in 2019. He holds a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design from Delaware Valley University.  Before joining the horticulture staff, he worked at Haverford College, The Westtown School, Henry Schmieder Arboretum, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and Germantown Friends School where he was instrumental in creating the Betty Cary Arboretum.

Susan McGinley graduated with a B.S. in Horticulture from Temple University, Ambler, and a B.S. degree from Cabrini College in Radnor, PA. Before joining the horticulture staff at the Scott Arboretum in 2001, Susan worked as a research biologist, and gardened at Chanticleer in Wayne, PA, Smith & Hawken in Rosemont, PA; and with Laurie Humphrey’s landscape design and maintenance firm in Haverford. Susan completed an internship at the Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA.

Dale Nemec, Gardener, has been with the staff since 2004. He comes to the Arboretum with a wealth of experience including as Grounds Maintenance Coordinator at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia for more than 20 years and horticulturist at Villanova University for a year. In 1999, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Temple University.

Rachel Warren joined the staff as the Assistant Education Programs Manager for Youth, Family and Diverse Audiences in September of 2022. Prior to coming to the Arboretum she was an elementary school teacher in Maryland and Delaware for seven years. Her favorite subject to teach is science and she loves bringing students into nature. In her previous positions she facilitated the school-wide Science Fair, led after school Yoga/Mindfulness Clubs and organized field trips for the entire grade. Rachel completed a Masters of Education in Teacher Leadership at the University of Delaware following her completion of a B.S. in elementary and special education, also at the University of Delaware.

Lars Rasmussen graduated from Temple University, Ambler, with a B.S. in horticulture and has an extensive background in growing greenhouse cut roses. Before becoming a member of the Scott Arboretum’s horticultural staff in 2001 and garden supervisor and plant health in 2018, Lars was employed by Octararo Native Plant Nursery in Kirkwood, PA; and Landstudies Inc. in Litiz, PA, where his focus was stream bank restoration and wetland installation. Lars completed an internship at Mt. Cuba Center for the Study of Piedmont Flora in Greenville, DE, and he has taken Longwood Gardens certificate classes.

Rebecca Robert has been with the Scott Arboretum since 2004 and currently serving as the Assistant Director. During her tenure at Scott Arboretum, Becky has managed the volunteer program, the Arboretum’s digital presence, interpretation program, and various member and community programs. She received a M.S. and a B.S. in horticulture at Penn State University. She has worked at a variety of nurseries and garden centers including Avalon Flower and Garden in Avalon, NJ; Snyder’s Greenhouse in Leck Kill, PA; Hershey Nursery in Hershey, PA; and Meadow Creek Farms in Klingerstown, PA.

Claire Sawyers has been the Director of the Scott Arboretum since 1990. Prior to that she worked at Mt. Cuba Center for the Study of Piedmont Flora in Hockessin, Delaware for seven years. She holds Masters degrees in ornamental horticulture from Purdue University and the University of Delaware where she was a Longwood Graduate Fellow. She has gardened in Japan, France and Belgium in addition to the U.S. She served as a commissioner for the accreditation program of the American Association of Museums from 2004 to 2010. Her book, The Authentic Garden: Five Principles for Cultivating a Sense of Place, was published in 2007 by Timber Press.

Mary Tipping joined the Scott Arboretum as Curator and Plant Recorder in 2015. From 2008 to 2015, she served as Arboretum Horticulturist at Delaware Valley University’s Henry Schmieder Arboretum, where her responsibilities included the collections database administration for the 40-acre arboretum. She has earned an M.S. in crop sciences from the University of Illinois, and a B.S. in horticulture from Temple University. Mary is also a PA Certified Horticulturist and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist.

Jacqui Ricchezza, Administrative Coordinator, joined the staff in 2004 and has ample experience at Swarthmore College. Her seven years with Alumni and Gift Records and two years with Facilities Services Department has given her a variety of computer, office, information, and management skills. In addition, she is a certified Master Gardener through the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Jacqui is continuing her education at the University of Pennsylvania taking classes at the College of Liberal and Professional Studies.

Jerry Schrack, Assistant Director of Grounds and Horticulture, joined the staff in 2019.

 Seamus Lewin joined us on May 20, 2024 as our public horticulture intern for a year-long appointment. Seamus grew up in South Jersey and graduated from the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences in three years with honors from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.  While there, he participated in various research projects and gained extensive greenhouse experience.  Since graduation, he has been working for Curaleaf in Hammonton, NJ. He has also had experience working with the public during summer months as a bartender at Founders Pub in Wildwood and as a salesperson at Wildwood Ice Cream. Seamus “was beyond excited” about our position.

Nick Lang joined the staff in 2021 as the Athletic Fields Crew Member/Gardener. He comes to the College after experience working as a quality control technician at Glasgow Inc. in Malvern. Since 2015, Nick has owned and operated Trifecta Landscaping where he provided lawn care and garden maintenance for over 100 properties. He is currently enrolled part-time at the Community College of Philadelphia.

Megan Rossman, Assistant Horticulturist since 2023, was the 2022 – 2023 Public Horticulture Intern at the Scott Arboretum. She also gained outdoor experience volunteering at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance in Vail, CO. Holding a bachelors in art history from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, Megan worked for the Sachs Museum at the Missouri Botanical Gardens doing exhibition research and in the summer of 2021 participated in the Harvard Design Discovery program gaining knowledge in landscape architecture design principles and practices.

Caroline Scalzo joined the horticulture team as a garden in August 2024. She comes to us having worked most recently at the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, where she had been since January 2023. In that position she co-managed a 10-acre botanic garden with Cincinnati Parks and worked with volunteers, taught horticulture courses for all ages, and directed seasonal interns. She noted, “It was a dream to work for such an intercity green space that acted as an urban oasis for people and nature alike.” Prior to this, she also gained experience working at Tikkun Farms in Cincinnati, where she was involved in permaculture and an urban agriculture job training program. In addition, in 2019 she had a seasonal position at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden which is well known for its integration of display horticulture into animal exhibits. Caroline holds a B.S. in horticulture from the University of Cincinnati and certification in sustainable landscapes, permaculture, and urban agriculture. She is “passionate about creating and preserving beautiful outdoor spaces that foster learning, relaxation, and connection with nature…[and is] eager to contribute to educational initiative and community engagement efforts.”