A Celebration of Trees: Burchfield and the Buffalo State Arboretum

In 1962, Edna M. Lindemann and others at Buffalo State College founded the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum. This collection of trees planted throughout the campus, was started at least in part, due to the loss of the American elm trees, lost to Dutch Elm Disease, that once lined Elmwood Avenue and other streets in the city of Buffalo. (In 1966, Dr. Lindemann became founding director of the Charles Burchfield Center--now the Burchfield Penney Art Center.)

Today this important collection, which has changed in many ways over the years, is maintained by Buffalo State College, and supported by the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum, a group founded in 2016 to work with campus and community members to support and restore the arboretum and make it an accredited arboretum that is recognized as being among the best in the United States.

As part of the exhibition Burchfield’s Arboretum on view at the Burchfield Penney Art Center from August 13th until December 2nd, 2018, the Burchfield Penney Art Center will present a panel discussion celebrating trees, and the past and present efforts of members and friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum.

The panel will be moderated by exhibition curator Tullis Johnson. Panelists will include:

Sarah Chapman

Sarah Chapman is the Horticulture Supervisor of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum at SUNY Buffalo State. She has a BA in Media Study from the University at Buffalo and an AS in Horticulture from NCCC. She has worked as an industry professional for 10 years, earning her Certified Nursery and Landscaper (CNLP) status in the process. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum.

Susan McCartney

Dr. Susan McCartney is the SUNY Buffalo State Special Advisor to the Provost for Economic Development and the Director of the Buffalo State Small Business Development Center. Susan is a member of the Executive Board for the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum. Susan holds degrees in Biology (BS), Art History (BA), Management (MBA), and Higher Education Administration (Ph.D.). Susan is deeply engaged in the community. Her areas of expertise include entrepreneurship, strategic management, and urban economic development.

Robert Warren

Dr. Robert Warren is a SUNY Buffalo State Associate Professor in the Department of Biology. Robert is a member of the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum and director of the Center for Urban Ecology Research. Robert holds degrees in Journalism (BA), Biology (MS) and Ecology (Ph.D.) and completed postdoctoral work in Biology and Environmental Studies. His area of expertise is global change ecology, which focuses on the impacts of climate change, non-native species and anthropogenic land-use on ecological interactions.

Rita M. Zientek

Dr. Rita M. Zientek is the Associate Dean of the School of The Professions at Buffalo State College.  Rita holds degrees in Accounting (BS), Student Personnel Administration MS), and Higher Education Administration (PhD). She, along with Sue McCartney, devised the idea of creating the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum group as a way to work with Dr. Karen O’Quin, Chair of the Campus Beautification Committee, to enhance the look of the campus.