Longwood Gardens Welcomes New Cohort of Fellows to Prestigious Leadership Program

Press Release

KENNETT SQUARE, PA —Longwood Gardens today announced the selection of four accomplished professionals for the prestigious Longwood Gardens Fellows Program, continuing a tradition of cultivating global leaders in horticulture since 1967. Following an intense interview and selection process, the 2026-27 Fellows are Cristóbal Sánchez (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico), Julia Kligman (San Francisco, Cali.), Katrina Quint (Chicago, Ill.), and William Kofi Ofei (Accra, Ghana). They will begin the program in July. For information on the Fellows Program, visit longwoodgardens.org/longwood-fellows.

“Following a highly competitive selection process, we are thrilled to welcome this exceptional cohort of Fellows,” said Kay Chubbuck, D.Phil., Vice President of Engagement and Learning. “Each Fellow brings unique expertise, experience, and perspectives that will enrich the program and strengthen the future of public garden leadership.”

This fully funded, year-long residency program is a leadership accelerator for high-potential professionals pursuing careers in public gardens. Fellows engage in intensive coursework and hands-on projects covering organizational dynamics, board governance, communications, nonprofit finance, and business management. A two-month field placement provides hands-on experience to prepare Fellows to lead with vision and impact. Upon completion, Fellows join the Longwood Gardens Alumni Association, a global network of over 3,000 alumni of Longwood Gardens’ prestigious professional training programs.

The Longwood Fellows Program seeks to develop leaders across the public garden industry and welcomes applicants from diverse professional backgrounds. Ideal candidates have at least five years of relevant experience and aspire to or currently hold leadership positions. Professionals transitioning into gardens from other industries are also encouraged to apply. Nominations for the Fellows program are open year-round and can be submitted via the online nomination form at longwoodgardens.org/fellows. Applications for the 2027-2028 cohort close July 31, 2026. 

The 2026-2027 Fellows

 

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.

 

Julia Kligman (San Francisco, Cali.)

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.

 

Katrina Quint (Chicago, Ill.)

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.

 

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.

About Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens is one of the great gardens of the world, encompassing 1,100 acres of gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, a 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ, and grand conservatories. Longwood continues the mission set forth by founder Pierre S. du Pont to bring joy and inspiration to all through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning. Expanding on its commitment to conservation, Longwood acquired the 505-acre Longwood at Granogue, a cultural landscape in nearby Wilmington, Delaware, in 2024. Longwood’s foremost influence on American horticulture has been through its education programs, in keeping with Mr. du Pont’s desire to establish “a school where students and others may receive instruction in the arts of horticulture and floriculture.” Since 1958, thousands of students from all over the world have participated in one or more of Longwood’s programs. These range from School & Youth Programs, which educate more than 45,000 students both online and in person each year, to the two-year Professional Horticulture Program, domestic and international internships, and the Fellows Program. Graduates have gone on to leadership roles in many of the country’s leading horticultural institutions. For more information, visit longwioodgardens.org.