Longwood announces new board president

Posted by Press Release on November 23, 2015

Longtime horticultural expert Jane G. Pepper will assume the presidency of the Longwood Gardens Board of Trustees. Longwood announced in a press release.

Pepper assumes the role after the retirement of Nathan Hayward III, who served on the board since 2001 and as president since 2003. Pepper has served as a trustee on the board since 2005 and as first vice president since 2014.

“This transition is a testament to our succession planning to ensure that the Longwood Board of Trustees continues to have the highest-caliber leadership guiding our organization,” Executive Director Paul B. Redman said in the release. “Jane’s professional background, her varied experience, and vast knowledge of Longwood will make her an outstanding president of the board of trustees.”

Pepper retired in 2010 as the president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), having led the organization for nearly 30 years. Her involvement with corporate and cultural institutions is extensive, including serving as a director of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.; trustee of the Natural Lands Trust; chair of the Selections Committee for the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships Philadelphia International Leadership Initiative; and a vice president of the Royal Horticultural Society in London.

She holds a master’s degree in public horticulture administration from the Longwood Graduate Program and a bachelor’s degree in plant science, both from the University of Delaware. She earned an associate of science degree in landscape design from Temple University.