UC Davis’ outdoor environment has transformed over the last couple of decades to a priceless resource relied on by our campus and regional community for recreation, research, environmental education, student leadership development, community engagement and more thanks in large part to the visionary leadership of Kathleen Socolofsky, assistant vice chancellor and director of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. 

In a remarkable testament to her impact at UC Davis and beyond, Socolofsky was awarded the highest honor by American Public Gardens Association, or APGA — the Honorary Life Member Award — for her extraordinary contributions to the public garden field. In addition to her extensive national service, the Arboretum and Public Garden has flourished under her leadership. 

Kathleen Socolofsky video overview

The American Public Gardens Association created this video overview to share why Kathleen Socolofsky was named an Honorary Life Member.

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• Her pioneering UC Davis GATEways Project (Gardens, Arts and The Environment) reimagined the campus landscape as a portal to welcome visitors and showcase the creative work and spirit of inquiry at UC Davis.
• Socolofsky collaborated with the university’s Campus Planning department in the creation of a Living Landscape Adaptation Plan (LLAP), a comprehensive strategy addressing climate change's impacts on campus landscapes that has positioned UC Davis as a leader in sustainable landscape management.
• Due to her commitment to student environmental leadership growth, Socolofsky led to the creation of the innovative Learning by Leading™ program which continues to grow and garner national and international acclaim and participation.

Underlying all of these notable achievements is Socolofsky’s unwavering commitment to community engagement and co-creation. She prioritizes building strong connections with a variety of stakeholders, ensuring that the Arboretum and Public Garden reflects the diverse voices and needs of its community.

“Kathleen is an outstanding and visionary leader who has led multiple strategic initiatives at UC Davis,” said Mary Croughan, provost and executive vice chancellor at UC Davis. “She always seeks innovative and creative ways to elevate and advance the purpose of the Arboretum and Public Garden, and fulfill the teaching, research and service mission of the university. This award rightfully recognizes the significant benefits of her work in the lives of individuals and in the community as a whole.”

Clare Shinnerl, vice chancellor of Finance, Operations and Administration, praised Socolofsky’s leadership and collaboration. “Thanks to Kathleen’s vision and hard work, UC Davis’s Arboretum and Public Garden has become a premier landmark for UC Davis and a model across the country.  She has inspired the community and drawn them to campus, setting philanthropic and volunteer records that will enable the Arboretum to thrive for years to come.  She has also engaged faculty to advise and teach on plants, trees, water, and animals, connecting academia and operations in a rare and special way.”

In addition to the APGA award, Socolofsky's accolades include the Excelerate Foundation’s Inaugural Leadership Award, the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Award of Distinction, a Professional Citation Award from APGA and more.

“For the past 26 years, Kathleen has served as an inspirational leader of University of California, Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, elevating not only the university garden that she leads, but also the broader community of botanical gardens and garden professionals,” said Jenny Cruse-Sanders, director of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. “She has a proven track record for approaching issues facing public gardens by thinking deeply and coming up with unusual connections that are generative and more than solutions to problems. Her solutions result in adaptable models that have been, and continue to be, shared across our garden community.” 

Nancy Bechtol, director emerita of Smithsonian Facilities said, “Kathleen is a genius in developing innovative models with high impact that build capacity and solve root problems.” 

“Kathleen's work has set a new standard for public garden leadership,” said Paul B. Redman, president and CEO of Longwood Gardens. “Her dedication to meaningful public engagement and innovative programming serves as an inspiration to us all.” 

Reflecting on the award, Socolofsky shared, “Receiving this award is an incredible honor. It represents not just my work, but the collective effort of an amazing community committed to environmental stewardship and education. Our success at the Arboretum and Public Garden is a testament to the power of collaboration and to the impact we can achieve together.”

Learn more about the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden by downloading the 2023 organizational highlights document or visiting our website.