William Cullina will officially become the Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum on July 8.
William Cullina will take over as the new F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum, Penn Today reported.
With a background in public garden leadership, education, horticulture, and fundraising, Cullina will begin the new position on July 8. Since 2011, Cullina has served as president and CEO of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, one of the largest botanical gardens in the country. There, Penn Today reported, he has led the execution of a 20-year master plan and a $50-million capital campaign, as well as the construction of a $4.2 million net-zero energy education center.
Cullina is also a well-known author and lecturer on plants native to North America. His books include “The Green Garden,” "Native Trees, Shrubs & Vines," and “Understanding Perennials."
“We have found a well-respected leader from the garden world with a proven record of success,” Morris Arboretum Advisory Board Chair Ellen Hass told Penn Today. “He is an ideal choice to lead the Morris Arboretum in its next phase of growth.”
“It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am deeply grateful to the Board and University for selecting me as the next leader of this great institution,” Culllina told Penn Today. “I cannot wait to get started."
In recent years, the Morris Arboretum has become a popular spot for students to visit. Since 2010, Morris Arboretum has offered occasional complimentary shuttles so students can visit the park in Northwest Philadelphia.
Cullina will succeed Paul Meyer, who worked at the Arboretum for 43 years and spent 28 years as executive director, the Inquirer reported.
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