Julia Thomé poses in front of Jull Hall.
In 2014, when Julia Thomé graduated from the Institute of Applied Agriculture with her Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture, she was named the IAA’s Outstanding Student. Three years later, she continues her outstanding ways.
This spring, Thomé was chosen as one of five Fellows in Longwood Gardens' inaugural Longwood Fellows Program. The Longwood Fellows Program focuses on building the leadership capacity of high-potential public horticulture and cultural professionals, thereby increasing the pipeline of talent available to the industry in the coming years.
Currently Thomé is the Assistant Manager of Gardens and Grounds at the Chevy Chase Club, a private and distinctive social institution in Maryland. She holds a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maine, and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Massachusetts where she graduated with honors.
Previously, Thomé served as the Director of Corporate Affairs for Lutheran World Relief and was also a Senior Coordinator at the Community Training and Assistance Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Thomé has extensive national and international travel experience and is fluent in Portuguese.
Thomé was selected by a distinguished panel of seven jurors that included directors of prominent public gardens across the globe. The five Fellows were selected based on their commitment to professional excellence, deep intellectual curiosity, and desire to serve in a leadership capacity within the public horticulture industry while representing diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
During the 13-month, fully funded, cohort-based residency at Longwood, Thomé will delve into topical issues relevant to public horticulture today such as leadership, board relations and governance, communication skills, change management, innovation, and human resources management. A two-month international field placement provides a deeper understanding of these issues, equipping Fellows to lead organizations into a vibrant and sustainable future.
Alumni of the Fellows Program join the prestigious Society of Fellows, a global network of public garden professionals.
