Casey Sclar: Director
University Park, PA — Public gardens leader Casey Sclar has been appointed as the H.O. Smith Endowed Director of The Arboretum at Penn State. He brings a passion for the art, science and business of horticulture and a strong track record of fostering inclusion and access in public garden settings.
In his current role as Executive Director of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA), Sclar is engaged with over 600 public gardens reaching more than 121 million visitors per year throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and over 20 other countries. Prior to his appointment at APGA, a position he has held for more than a decade, Sclar spent 15 years leading plant health care efforts at Longwood Gardens.
Sclar, a Pennsylvania resident for more than 25 years, is currently Vice President of the Board of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a national organization that works to protect pollinators. He has previously participated in integrated pest management programs with Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
The Arboretum at Penn State has grown to 370 acres, including the 7-acre H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens and the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden, a 3-acre Pollinator and Bird Garden, and more than 40 acres of restored natural areas. The Arboretum welcomes 160,000 visitors annually and also serves as an outdoor living library and laboratory for Penn State classes, and student research and engagement projects, as well as a rental venue for both University and private events. For more information, visit https://arboretum.psu.edu/.
