TU speaks for the trees
University honored for dedication to campus trees by Arbor Day Foundation, Maryland DNR
By Megan Bradshaw on April 24, 2019
For over eight decades, Towson University has protected and preserved the 10 acres in the center of campus known as the Glen. On April 26, TU faculty, staff and Glen Arboretum board members’ recent efforts will be recognized with national and state awards.
TU has been named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation and a Maryland People Loving and Nurturing Trees (PLANT) award winner.
TU will hold a ceremony from 12:30–1 p.m. on “The Beach” between Linthicum Hall and Cook Library. The event will feature remarks from Dean David Vanko, Jess & Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, Vice Provost S. Maggie Reitz, and Glenn Ferenchak, state forestry board. A ceremonial tree planting will follow.
The Glen has been a valuable educational resource for biology and geology students since the 1970s. It will continue to play an integral part as TU’s new $180 million science complex propels students even further in their career preparedness.
The efforts of the Glen Arboretum board—Jim Hull, professor emeritus of biology; Donna Anderson, manager of Landscape Services; Vanessa Beauchamp, associate professor of biology; Andrew Lyburn, assistant director of outdoor adventures, Campus Recreation; Geannine Callaghan, director of strategic initiatives and foundation relations; and Paddy Watson, campus planning and sustainability manager—played a key role in attaining the recognition.
TU students were also integral to the university earning this designation.
As part of Tree Campus USA award’s service-learning component, 152 TU students helped plant 24 trees in the Glen. Students also volunteered to clean the area and plant a food forest near the campus urban farm.
Elena Sachs, a former Office of Sustainability student employee, had a large role in developing the campus tree care plan. She also served as the lead for the installation of the pollinator garden on campus.
The Glen Arboretum board also received a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to work on plantings and invasive species removal in the Glen, which will start this spring.
Tree Campus USA is an annual recognition based on meeting five standards for environmental stewardship: a dedicated tree advisory committee, a campus tree care plan, annual expenditures dedicated to the tree program, observation of Arbor Day and engaging students through service learning.
The PLANT award, given by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, recognizes organizations that are good stewards of their trees.
Learn more about The glen
The Maryland Trees Collection
For more than 10 years, professor emeritus Jim Hull has been working to include in the Glen Arboretum examples of all 120 tree species native to Maryland. Click here to learn more about the trees growing on campus.
This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.