Arboretum Staff

Glenn D. Dreyer, Charles and Sarah P. Becker '27 Arboretum Director

The director oversees all department functions, including education, planning, land management, collection curation, research and fund raising. Mr. Dreyer reports to the Provost/Dean of the Faculty, and works closely with faculty and students in the life sciences and a variety of administrators including the Director of Physical Plant and the Supervisor of Grounds.

Glenn Dreyer began working for the Arboretum in a landscape maintenance capacity while still a graduate student in 1982. The next year he became Assistant Arboretum Director under William A. Niering. In 1988 he was appointed to the position of Arboretum Director. Mr. Dreyer is also an adjunct professor of botany and the executive director of the College's Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies. He teaches the course "Environmental Horticulture" for the Botany Department. His professional and research interests pertain to the interface between horticulture and ecology, and he is the author of the book Connecticut's Notable Trees. His hobbies include playing the great highland bagpipe and helping his wife Wendy with her Australian Shepherd dog raising, breeding, and training program.

Kathy T. Dame, Assistant Director

Kathy joined the Arboretum staff in 1993 and now works as Assistant Director of the Arboretum. In this capacity, she is responsibible for all aspects of Public Education and Community Outreach. Her responsibilities include public relations, planning and implementing public education programs, maintaining the Arboretum website, and coordinating the volunteer program. She also works with the Arboretum staff to insure the smooth functioning of the administrative portion of the Arboretum. Kathy is an alum of Connecticut College where she majored in Religious Studies and minored in English. Writing, reading, storytelling, photography, and classical music rank high among her interests, but her greatest source of joy is her children, Brad. Ted, and Mitzi, and her grandson, Lukie, and her granddaughter, Jessica.

Bryan Goulet, Groundsperson

Bryan Goulet joined the Arboretum staff in March, 2005 as an Arboretum groundsperson, transferring from the Physical Plant Department of the College where had worked since 1998. He received his degree in Arboriculture from the University of Massachusetts in 1981, bringing with him a valuable background in tree care. In his spare time, Bryan enjoys motorcycling, letter boxing, hiking, and travel. His daughter, Chelsea, is 15 years old.

Anne Davis, Staff Assistant

Anne Davis joined the Arboretum staff in September, 1999 as part-time staff assistant. Her duties include reception, bookkeeping, maintaining the membership data base, book orders, and clerical duties. A dedicated member of the Arboretum staff, formerly she was employed by the Coastal Savings Bank and the US Coast Guard Development Center. Her other interests include hiking, conservation, and working with young children.

Jim Luce, Grounds Supervisor

A valued associate to the Arboretum, Mr. Luce is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the campus landscape. His focus is on creating and maintaining both an aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound landscape. His concerns include sustaining a high level of variety among the plantings on campus, using methods which require low maintenance, and replacing aging plantings. Jim also provides training in botany and ecology to his staff, and volunteers his time to teach public education programs for the Arboretum each semester.

Chip McIlwain, Horticultural Assistant

Charles McIllwain III joined the Arboretum staff in January of 1999 as an Arboretum Groundsperson. "Chip" has an excellent background in grounds and tree care and transferred to the Arboretum staff from the College's Physical Plant Grounds Crew. In 1999, Chip was honored by the college for ten years of dedicated service.

Jeffrey D. Smith, Arboretum Horticulturist

As the Arboretum Horticulturist, Jeff is responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the Arboretum and greenhouse, and works with the Botany Department faculty, student workers, and horticultural volunteers. He also conducts horticulturally related classes and tours for the Arboretum Education Program, and has taught short courses on pruning, holiday decorations, propagation, and other related topics.

Jeff, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, has been involved in landscape maintenance and design for almost 25 years. He came to the Arboretum in 1993 bringing with him an expertise and passion for plants and the landscape that is evident in a visit to the Arboretum. Jeff and his wife, Linda, enjoy gardening, traveling, bicycling, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

Sally L. Taylor, Education Consultant

In the capacity of volunteer Education Consultant, Sally works closely with the program committee and lends her years of experience to insure the Arboretum's quality educational programs. She is Professor Emeritus of Botany at Connecticut College, where she taught courses in ornamental plants, economic botany, general botany, and biology. She was also Director of the Program in Human Ecology (now Environmental Studies) and curator of the Caroline Black Garden. Not only is she a valuable Arboretum advisor, but Mrs. Taylor is an active member of a number of other conservation organizations and serves on the board of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. She is a sought-after lecturer on botanical and horticultural topics and is a seasoned world traveler with a special interest in the northern and southern extremes of the globe.