FRAMINGHAM, MA - New England Wild Flower Society announced that Gwen Stauffer, formerly of Warrenton, Virginia will lead America's oldest plant conservation institution as Executive Director, beginning January 20th 2005.

"Gwen Stauffer loves native plants", said Frances Clark, the Society's new President, and botany faculty member of the Society's education program. A rising star in public horticulture, Gwen is enthusiastically looking forward to taking on the challenges of the Society's strategic plans for conservation and horticulture. She succeeds David DeKing, who contributed ten years of remarkable conservation leadership.

"I am thrilled to part of such a great team doing such significant work", said Ms. Stauffer. Even though the New England Wild Flower Society's plant conservation work spans more than a century, there is still a great deal of critical work ahead of us to keep our natural areas healthy and conserve our native plant heritage. I'm particularly interested in the Society's role in sharing education programs throughout the region'. The Society collaborates with many regional organizations, such as the Arnold Arboretum, the Delta Institute in Bowdoin Maine, the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden , the Yale Peabody Museum, and other fine institutions with shared goals. New England Wild Flower Society offers the largest public native plant education program in America with more than 250 classes, tours, and events for adults and children. Strategic plans include new plant education opportunities in all six New England states, including the Society's certificate program offerings for students seeking an in-depth native plant educational experience.

Ms. Stauffer has a passionate commitment to the mission of public horticulture and conservation. She developed her twenty-year career in horticulture after receiving a B.S. Degree from the Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture and a Masters Degree in Public Horticulture Leadership and Administration from the Longwood Program affiliated with the University of Delaware. Stauffer's stellar background includes seven years at Hillwood Museum and Gardens, the former estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, in Washington, D.C. Most recently she served as Executive Director of Gardens at Callaway Gardens in Georgia. Ms. Stauffer serves on multiple committees of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA).

The new Director will develop strategic initiatives including work on Nasami Farm, the Society's new native plant nursery in Whately, Massachusetts and the creation of the next Flora of New England, by Arthur Haines. She heads the Society's continuing award-winning programs including three conservation programs served by more than 900 volunteers in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

For information call 508-877-7630 or visit www.newfs.org

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