Scott Aboretum & Gardens

 

 

Staff

Caitlin Anello

Member and Donors Programs Manager

Beck Armstrong

Senior Horticulturist

Josh Coceano

Horticulture Supervisor, Greenhouse & Nursery Operations

Kass Combs

Horticulturist

Sandra Lopez Cortez

Senior Horticulturist

Andrew DeGothseir

Senior Horticulturist

Katrien de Waard

Public Horticulture Intern

Will Evans

Horticulturist

Adam Glas

Horticulture Supervisor

Chuck Hinkle

Horticulture Supervisor

Jeff Jabco

Executive Director of Scott Arboretum & Gardens

Mackenzie Knight-Fochs

Education Programs Manager

Kaitlyn Lawrence

Senior Horticulturist

 

Sue MacQueen

Campus Engagement Manager

Stephanie Myers

Senior Horticulturist 

Dale Nemec

Senior Horticulturist 

Jacqui Ricchezza

Administrative Coordinator

Rebecca Robert

Associate Director, Learning & Community Engagement

Shem Ruszczyk

Assistant Horticulture Supervisor

Caroline Scalzo

Senior Horticulturist 

Jerry Schrack

Associate Director, Grounds Operation

Mary Tipping

Curator and Plant Recorder

Rachel Warren

Assistant Education Programs Manager for Youth, Families, and Diverse Audiences

Meet Our Staff

Kaitlyn Lawrence, Senior Horticulturist, joined the staff in 2022. Prior to joining the Scott Arboretum & Gardens, 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 a bachelor’s degree 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 Horticulture Supervisor, Greenhouse & Nursery Operations. Josh Coceano hails from Mt. Crawford, Virginia – a small town in the Shenandoah Valley. Josh is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s 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.

Sandra Lopez Cortez grew up in Guanajuato, Mexico and moved to Kennett Square, Pa at the age of 14. She graduated from the Professional Gardener Program at Longwood in 2013 and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture & Natural Resources with a minor in Horticulture at the University of Delaware in 2019.
 Sandra became a member of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens staff in 2015 where she  helps maintain a variety of gardens. Most of her experience involves maintaining ornamental plants but she is growing a passion for sustainability, the environment, wildlife, and education.

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.

Beck Armstrong is a senior horticulturist. Prior to joining the staff in 2023 as a gardener, she 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 at the Scott Arboretum & Gardens, 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 & Gardens. Beck is presently pursuing a horticulture certificate from the Barnes Arboretum at St. Joseph’s University.

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

Adam Glas, Horticulture 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 of 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, Horticulture, 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, Executive Director of Scott Arboretum & Gardens, 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 Horticulture Supervisor.  Prior to joining the Scott Arboretum & Gardens, 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, Senior Horticulturist, 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.

Dale Nemec, Senior Horticulturist, 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.
Rebecca Robert has been with the Scott Arboretum & Gardens since 2004 and currently serves as the Associate Director, Learning & Community Engagement. During her tenure at Scott Arboretum & Gardens, 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.
Mary Tipping joined the Scott Arboretum & Gardens 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, Associate Director, Grounds Operation, joined the staff in 2019. Before joining Swarthmore College, he worked as the Director of Garden Operations at The Philadelphia Zoo, where he oversaw the care of the zoo grounds and exhibits since 2003.  Before working at the Philadelphia Zoo, he served as a Horticulturist for the Smithsonian Institution and the US National Arboretum.  Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University in Landscape Contracting.  Jerry is a certified Arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture. 

Stephanie Myers, Senior Horticulturist, joined the staff in 2022.  She was the Greenhouse and Cutting Garden Horticulturist at Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington DE.  She is the current Garden Club Organizer and volunteer at Lakeview Elementary. Formerly she was the Assistant Vineyard Manager of Salem Oak Vineyards in NJ. She holds a B.S. in Horticulture from Oregon State University College of Agriculture.

Kass Combs, Horticulturist, joined the staff in July 2025. Prior to entering the world of horticulture, Kass worked in environmental compliance and enforcement as an Air Quality inspector at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Kass then completed an internship at Morris Arboretum & Gardens as the Hay Honey Farm Natural Areas Intern, where she assisted in the Pennsylvania Native Bee Monitoring Program through a partnership with Penn State University. She has worked in private horticulture caring for large estate gardens along the Philadelphia Mainline and is passionate about gardening with native plants. Kass holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology with a minor in Physics from Temple University, and recently earned a certificate in Horticulture from the Barnes Arboretum at St. Joseph’s University.
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.”

Katrien de Waard joined as the year-long public horticulture intern in June 2025. She recently graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Plant Sciences and Communication. Previously, Katrien has worked in communications with the Water Quality Association, interned in public engagement at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and volunteered at the Cornell Botanic Gardens.