Following an intense interview and selection process, we are pleased to announce the selection of four accomplished horticulture professionals for the 2026–2027 cohort of our prestigious Fellows Program.
2026-2027 Cohort
Julia Kligman (San Franscisco, California)
Julia Kligman brings a decade of communications and public relations experience to the Longwood Fellows program, having shaped public narratives at the intersection of science, technology, and storytelling. Her early career work focused on educational entertainment and television, eventually leading her toward building and running corporate communications and stakeholder management programs for enterprise technology companies. She spent time representing startups and large firms at midsize and global PR agencies, and served in-house at a leading AI company. That thread of translating complex ideas for broad audiences will now find its fullest expression in public horticulture. A dedicated community member driven by a belief that public gardens are indispensable civic institutions, Kligman studied environmental horticulture at San Francisco City College and has contributed as a volunteer at horticulture organizations throughout San Francisco, including the Presidio Native Plant Nursery. She earned her bachelor’s degree in strategic communications from American University in Washington, D.C.
William Kofi Ofei (Accra, Ghana)
William Kofi Ofei is an accomplished horticultural leader with 20 years of distinguished service at the University of Ghana, Legon. As curator of the University’s Grounds and Gardens Unit, he provides strategic oversight for the construction, development, and maintenance of the University’s landscapes, ensuring they reflect both ecological sustainability and aesthetic excellence. His leadership has been pivotal in reimagining major academic spaces, positioning the institution as a model of ecological stewardship and aesthetic distinction. Beyond the University, Ofei has advanced community–university relations by restoring cultural heritage through horticulture, using green spaces as a platform for collaboration and shared heritage. A passionate mentor, he has guided emerging professionals, fostering capacity and professionalism in the horticultural field. Ofei holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and a Master of Business Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, blending technical expertise with strategic management to drive institutional transformation and sectoral impact.
Katrina Quint (Chicago, Illinois)
Katrina Quint joins the Longwood Fellows program from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Ill., where she works as the Director of Horticulture. Her work emphasizes mentorship and the cultivation of a thriving urban ecosystem within the zoo’s landscape, stewarding the land that supports Chicago’s free zoo. With a deep passion for connecting people to nature, Quint brings over 15 years of experience in public horticulture. She previously worked on the display horticulture team at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill. Quint holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Iowa State University, and her love for this work began early while working alongside her mother in her family’s business, Ingrid’s Landscaping, in Iowa. She is also a certified arborist.
Cristóbal Sánchez, Ph.D. (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)
Cristóbal Sánchez, Ph. D. joins the Longwood Fellows program from the Vallarta Botanical Garden in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he serves as Chief Science Officer. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, a master’s degree in botany, and a Ph.D. in forest sciences from the College of Postgraduates in Mexico. Over the past 14 years, his work has focused on botanical exploration, ecology and conservation of threatened native tree species, and ethnobotanical studies of the Hñähñu, Yuhmu, and Nahua cultures. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Botanical Society of Mexico and as Vice President of the Latin American Botanical Association. Dr. Sánchez also coordinates outreach and education activities in botany through the science communication project he founded in 2020 called “Plantas Mexicanas,” which currently has more than 115,000 followers across all social media platforms.