Bio Statement for Cynthia D. Klemmer, Ph.D. (Cindy)
Dr. Klemmer has had a lifelong love of plants, gardening, and nature.
Dr. Klemmer earned a B.S. in Horticultural Sciences from Texas A&M University (Gig ‘em!), where she was lucky enough to do an internship at the Dallas Arboretum and another in Horticultural Therapy. These focuses on the ‘people’ side of horticulture shaped her career, leading her to focus on public horticulture. She continued her studies by earning her M.S. in Public Horticulture Administration from the Longwood Graduate Program at the University of Delaware. In her master’s studies, Dr. Klemmer’s research focused on the planning and creation of exhibits for youth and family audiences. After working at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Boston, where she served as ‘The Plantmobile Lady’, she returned to Texas A&M University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences with a focus on People-Plant Connections. Her research area focused on STEM/science achievement of students involved in school gardening programs.
Dr. Klemmer has been fortunate to work at a number of botanical gardens around the country over the past 35+ years: the Chicago Botanic Garden, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (Charlotte, NC), Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Bok Tower Gardens (both in Florida), and the San Antonio Botanic Garden. Most recently she served as the Public Gardens Manager for the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department, where she managed the Zilker Botanical Garden as well as the historic Mayfield Estate, and the City’s community gardens program comprised of 26 gardens around Austin. She was thrilled to come to Mobile where it actually rains, resulting in the lush and lovely plant palette that we enjoy here.
Dr. Klemmer has worked in the interface of plants and people throughout her career, and has a passion for creating nature-based programs, events, and exhibits that create engaging and meaningful experiences and cultivate a passion for nature in the community.