Seminar_Mark Weathington_9.27.23.pdf

Mark Weathington joined the NCSU Horticultural Science Department in 2007 as Assistant Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum.  In 2014, he was appointed Director of the JCRA where he has spent the past decade growing the reach and impact of the Arboretum, Horticultural Science Department, and CALS.  With 30 years of professional experience, hundreds of public lectures, numerous popular press and journal articles, a well-received gardening book, and most recently a chapter in “Botanical Gardens and Their Role in Plant Conservation,” the number of stakeholders reached is impressive.  With 7 years as adjunct faculty at Tidewater Community College and lecturer for the graduate level HS 533-Public Garden Administration, Mark has positioned the JCRA to continue to inspire students, growers, researchers, and the public to, “Plan – and Plant a better world.”  His work with colleagues and organizations around the world are helping to conserve and introduce threatened plant taxa and diverse genetics both through direct introduction and through elevating curation and collection management at other botanical institutions.  The appointment of Professor of the Practice will enhance and facilitate his collaborations with colleagues and allow him to participate more fully in graduate committees and the development of new opportunities for students.