The Longwood Fellows Program is a unique, year-long leadership accelerator designed to prepare high-potential professionals for high-impact roles at public gardens, both in the United States and abroad.
Continuing Longwood Gardens’ mission of training horticulture professionals, the Fellows Program supports the future of public gardens through this investment in leadership development for the sector at large.
Fellows refine their leadership skills through a combination of coursework, project-based learning, and networking opportunities with industry professionals to learn about topics such as strategic planning, master site planning, nonprofit finance, leadership communications, conflict management, and leading effective teams at public gardens. The program grafts theory with practice, offering Fellows the opportunity to conduct case-based discussions, learn from regional and global public garden leaders, and engage in practical learning through a departmental immersion at Longwood, a two-month externship at a partner garden, and by conducting a research-based cohort project that addresses a pressing issue facing public gardens.
The ideal applicant is a rising leader with experience working at a public garden or arboreta, either in the United States or abroad. Successful applicants demonstrate a high potential for professional growth, are endorsed by garden professionals, are proficient in both written and spoken English, and embody the following characteristics:
- 5+ years of work experience in public horticulture or closely related field. This can include a public garden or arboretum, national park, university, or similar experiences.
- Commitment to professional excellence and to personal growth
- Leadership competencies that include intellectual curiosity, drive and motivation, adaptive interpersonal skills, fiscal responsibility, resiliency, and strong communication skills
- Ability to advance others’ success and to collaborate well as a member of a team
- Welcoming of diverse perspectives and backgrounds, and open to learning from cultural exchange
- Capacity to be visionary, innovative, and forward-thinking
- Demonstrated commitment to public horticulture
A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, such as a diploma in horticulture, is strongly preferred. Those individuals who meet the criteria listed and find themselves transitioning between careers are also encouraged to apply.
A complete application for the Longwood Fellows Program has 5 components:
- Program application form
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Three (3) short essays of 350-500 words
- Two (2) letters of recommendation, one from a direct supervisor and one from a peer, such as a professional colleague, collaborator, team member, or former classmate. References may not be written by family members.
Applications will open on June 1, 2025. Please be sure all components of the application are completed and submitted before 11:59pm ET, July 31, 2025. This includes two (2) letters of recommendation submitted in .pdf form by two (2) separate references (direct supervisor and peer) to fellowsprogram@longwoodgardens.org.
The initial interview process may involve a Zoom screening. Finalists will be invited to in-person interviews at Longwood Gardens in November 2025, with travel costs covered by Longwood Gardens. Following the interviews, successful applicants will be required to complete a background check and drug screening before the program starts in the summer of 2026. Please submit any questions to fellowsprogram@longwoodgardens.org.