About the Fellows Program

A History of Grooming Leaders

Our founder, Pierre S. du Pont, was a visionary business leader and had a desire to establish a school where students would receive education in the art of horticulture.


In 1967, we partnered with the University of Delaware to create the Longwood Graduate Program, awarding graduates an M.S. in Ornamental Horticulture. The Program has evolved twice in its history—in 1988, the degree changed to an M.S. in Public Horticulture Administration; and in 1998, the degree changed to an M.S. in Public Horticulture.

In 2017, the program underwent a complete transformation, altering its focus exclusively to building leadership capacity in public horticulture, replacing the former graduate program.  Each year, the application period opens in late summer for the cohort that starts the following spring.