The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum has appointed botanist and landscape architect Martin Quigley to serve as director of gardens and grounds. Quigley, who joined the Arboretum staff November 2, was previously a professor of botany and director of the Chester M. Alter Arboretum at the University of Denver.
"Martin brings a perfect blend of expertise in horticulture, landscape architecture, and academia to this position, as well as a deep appreciation for our collections," said Jessica Fiske Bailey, executive director of the Arboretum. "We are excited to have him on board and welcome his energy, enthusiasm, and new ideas and perspectives."
Quigley got an early start in horticulture, working at a local nursery and landscape business from age 11 through high school. He earned a master's degree in landscape architecture and worked for a decade in landscape design and environmental consulting before returning to graduate school for a Ph.D. in plant community ecology. Prior to his position at the University of Denver, he was a professor of biology and director of campus landscape and natural resources at the University of Central Florida.
"The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum is nationally and internationally known, recognized by scientific and horticultural groups alike, because its collections are unique," Quigley said. "I'd like to raise the quality of the visitor experience to the level of other eminent display gardens, and I'd also like to increase research collaborations, both with UCSC faculty and with extramural and international researchers."
As director of gardens and grounds, Quigley's primary responsibility is to manage the plant collections and direct the operations of the gardens. He also oversees educational programming and the creative development of interpretive materials and exhibits in the Arboretum.
Quigley earned his B.A. in English and comparative literature at Cornell University, M.L.A. in landscape architecture at Utah State University, and Ph.D. in plant community ecology at Louisiana State University.
