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Bartram's Garden Names New Executive Director
by Kim Massare, Bartram's Garden - posted 8/10/2012
Maitreyi Roy's distinguished career with Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is a boon to Bartram's historic urban garden.
BARTRAM'S GARDEN, Philadelphia (August 10, 2012) --The John Bartram Association (JBA) today announced the appointment of Maitreyi Roy as Executive Director of the Association. "Maitreyi Roy's significant accomplishments over her distinguished career with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and with the City of Boston Parks & Recreation Department before that made her the top candidate," said Steven Bessellieu, President of the John Bartram Association and Chair of the Search Committee. "JBA is an organization with an historic past and tremendous opportunity for the future. This year at Bartram's Garden our education programs hosted over 9,000 public school students; opened a new segment of the Schuylkill River Trail; launched a new Plant Nursery; introduced the Green Room for a hands-on exploration of nature; and in partnership with PHS, the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative of the University of Pennsylvania, and the City of Philadelphia's Parks and Recreation Department established the Community Farm and Food Resource Center. Our continued success requires a passionate, mission-driven leader with innovative and creative thinking grounded in horticulture to guide our growth and development." The Search Committee unanimously nominated Roy as JBA's new Executive Director. In this role, Roy's primary goal will be to advance JBA's mission to protect and enhance the National Historic Landmark Garden and House, advance the Bartram legacy of discovery, gardening and art, and inspire audiences of all ages to care for the natural world. Roy commented: "Bartram's Garden is an iconic historic and cultural landscape of our city and I am honored and excited to work in collaboration with the board, staff, leaders in government and the civic and cultural community to advance the John Bartram legacy." PHS President Drew Becher praised Roy for her nearly two decades of innovative leadership at the organization. "Bartram's Garden is acquiring an extraordinary executive. Maitreyi has guided many of our most important programs at PHS. We congratulate her on the new position, and we look forward to a deeper partnership with Bartram's in our shared goals for urban gardening and greening." Prior to her appointment at JBA, Roy served 19 years with PHS, most recently as Senior Vice President for Programs and Planning. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree with Distinction from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, India, as well as a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. ### Bartram's Garden is a 45-acre National Historic Landmark operated by the John Bartram Association in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia. For further information please visit: www.bartramsgarden.org.