GROWING A CAREER THROUGH THE URBAN FORESTRY FELLOWSHIP

BY MATT WALKER, former Martha S. Miller & Rusty Miller Urban Forestry Fellow

Morris Arboretum & Gardens, University of Pennsylvania 

SEASONS. Fall/Winter 2025:  VOLUME 54, Number 2.

THE URBAN FORESTRY FELLOWSHIP WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST JUST ONE YEAR, BUT TWO YEARS AND A FEW MONTHS LATER IT’S TIME TO REFLECT ON MY EXPERIENCE HERE AT THE MORRIS ARBORETUM & GARDENS.

I’m in awe of the vast wealth of knowledge that was shared with me. Not only am I able to identify trees around me, but I also know how to plant them, how to care for them, and how to manage them in landscapes. I learned how to use mapping and design software, how to use arboricultural equipment like resistance drills, and how to write reports for clients. I attended many educational tree-related conferences and was able to take master-level courses at the University of Pennsylvania in soil science and environmental planning.

The encouragement I received from those around me nurtured my passion for trees and the environment. That support came to life through my achievement of becoming an ISA Certified Arborist—an accomplishment made possible by this fellowship. With the expertise I gained at Morris, I developed the foundational skill set for the rest of my career caring for trees.

HIGHLIGHTS

One of the unique things about this fellowship is that it took me to amazing places outside the arboretum gates. As a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, I had the opportunity to see parts of my region I had never seen before from a perspective that not many people get to experience. Some highlights include finding the state champion southern red oak in a city park, teaching students about trees at W.B. Saul High School, and peering down George Washington’s outhouse while assessing trees at his historic Germantown residence. Working here has brought me closer to my hometown, and everywhere I look I see trees that we have been able to help.

I have also been able to connect with so many people who are just as passionate about trees as I am. I attended the International Society of Arboriculture conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the World Forum on Urban Forests in Washington, D.C.; and I was a youth delegate at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The people I have met inspire me to continue working to protect and preserve trees and ultimately led me to the next steps in my career.

I will be attending the University of Delaware to complete a master’s degree in plant and soil science, researching the forests growing within our cities and towns. With everything I have learned, and knowing I have the support of the people I have met, I am confident that my career in trees will be meaningful both to trees and the people who care about them.

See the full issue of SEASONS, Fall/Winter 2025: here