Internship Program Reports
The Morris Arboretum internship program provides hands-on experience and an education that prepares interns for careers in public gardens and related fields. Year-long, full-time internships are offered in the following areas: arborist, education, flora of Pennsylvania, horticulture, natural lands, plant protection, rose and flower, and urban forestry.
Each intern completes an independent study project that is geared towards advancing his or his career development and the Arboretum's mission. Each project consists of an oral presentation and a written report. Towards the conclusion of the internship program, all independent study projects are presented to the Arboretum staff.
Submissions from 2020
A Gap Analysis of the Morris Arboretum Hydrangea Collection: Sections Asperae and Chinensis, Emily Conn
Enhancing Invertebrate Habitat on the Intensive Green Roof, Nate Flicker
Design and Reinstallation of Two Rose Garden Beds at the Morris Arboretum, Eloise Gayer
Leveraging Herbarium Records for a Niche Analysis of Ripariosida hermaphrodita (L.) Weakley & B. D. Poind. (Virginia mallow), Dominique Jeton Groffman
Protecting Tree Roots at the Morris Arboretum, Alex Gunstensen
What’s the Catch? Collateral Mortality of Spotted Lanternfly Sticky Banding, Luke Hearon
Analyzing Leaf Litter and Soil Health at the University of Pennsylvania, Eliza Nobles
Tree Re-use at the University of Pennsylvania: Establishing A Re-utilization Program, Eliza Nobles
Engaging With the Morris Arboretum's Japanese Gardens, Alessandra Rella
Evaluation and Recommendations for the Widener Wooded Path, Caitlyn Rodriguez
Submissions from 2019
Preserving Place at the Morris Arboretum: A Landscape Management Plan for the Historic Intern House Garden and Hillcrest Building, Kristiana Bowman
Evaluation of the Crabapple (Malus) Collection and Assessment of the Crabapple Slope, Micah Christensen
“Your Guide to Tree Adventure”: Interpretive Panel and Guidebook Design, Emily Clarke
Establishing a Baseline Plant Species Inventory Within the Penn’s Woods Deer Exclosure, Mike Cranney
Identification Protocol and Management Strategies of Plant Pathogens in the Morris Arboretum Greenhouse, Vincent Galatolo
Pests of Woody Landscape Plants: An Integrated Pest Management Scouting Guide, Jennifer Klimowicz
Lean on Me: Recommendations for Heritage Tree Support at the Morris Arboretum, Daniel Sax
Submissions from 2018
Fernery Interpretation Redesign: Highlighting Morris Arboretum’s Collection, Jennie Ciborowski
An Evaluation and Interpretation of the Roses in the Rose Garden, Erin Conley
The Historical Phytogeography of Cirsium arvense, An Invasive Species in Pennsylvania, Janet K. Mansaray
Garden Railway ‘Foyer’ Redesign, Jennifer Monico
What is a Tree Worth? An Appraisal of the University of Pennsylvania’s Tree Population, Eric Moore
An Insect Community Study of the Morris Arboretum Green Roof, Samantha Nestory
Testing Biological Controls for Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a Serious Pest of the Morris Arboretum Greenhouse Complex, Amanda Quadrel
Index of Invasiveness of Cultivars of Acer palmatum, Wayne Schmitt
Submissions from 2017
Evaluation and Assessment of Rose Health in the Rose Garden, Tess Adgie
Paper Mill Run Riparian Zone Management Plan and Partial Restoration, Kevin Brown
Interpretation in the Natural Areas: Enhancing the Visitor Experience, Alexandra Correia-Sareyka
Plastome Assembly in the Wax Plants (Hoya) and Near Relatives (Marsdenieae, Apocynaceae), Trista Crook
Management of the Viburnum Leaf Beetle at the Morris Arboretum, Anna Giesmann
Evaluation and Recommendations for a Portion of the East Brook, Erin Holiman
Assessment and Review of the Morris Arboretum Magnolia Collection, Jehane Samaha
Bloomfield Farm Rain-Garden Redesign, Elizabeth D. Trout
Submissions from 2016
To Speak for the Trees: A Self-Guided Arboriculture Tour at Morris Arboretum, Joshua Best
A Proactive Pest Control Calendar and Rearing Beneficial Insects, Victoria Bolden
Redesign of the Rose Garden Terminus Garden, Maya Czulewicz
Advancing the Garden: Parking Lot Plan Planting Plan, Paige Ida
Groff Memorial Park Meadow Design and Management Plan, Trish Kemper
Fostering Family Engagement at the Morris Arboretum, Pilar Rivera
Ground Cover Restoration in the Michaux Quercetum, Willa Rowan
Submissions from 2015
Creating ArcGIS Story Maps of the Morris Arboretum: Mapping People, Plants, and Place, Corey Bassett
Rain Garden Revitalization at Bloomfield Farm, Anna Bower
Fungal and Bacterial Communities of Woody Plants at the Morris Arboretum, Jacob Golan
Tree Management and Circulation in an Underused Section of the Natural Lands at the Morris Arboretum, Aaron Greenberg
Creating an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program for the Marion Rivinus Rose Garden at the Morris Arboretum, Jennifer J. Lauer
Identification and Biological Control of Top Pests and Diseases in the Morris Arboretum Greenhouse Complex, Danielle N. Novick
An Expanded Approach to ‘Garden Etiquette’ at Morris Arboretum, Claire Sundquist
Making Improvements in the Morris Arboretum’s Compost, Lauren Weeks
Submissions from 2014
Weed Identification and Management at the Morris Arboretum, Emma Erler
Three Year Strategic Plan for the Urban Forestry Consultants and School of Arboriculture, Andrew Kirkpatrick
Member Retention through Continuing Education, Stephanie Kuniholm
Resource Recovery Plan for Parker’s Pipewort ( Eriocaulon parkeri B.L. Rob) in Pennsylvania, Alexandra Seglias
Resource Recovery Plan: Bidens bidentoides, A Rare Pennsylvania Plant, Chelsea Smith
Review and Propagation of the Holly Slope, Laura Sweeney
Submissions from 2013
Natural Lands Management and Stewardship Plan for Harriet Wetherill Park in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, Rebekah Armstrong
Compost Program at Morris Arboretum, Jamie Berlin
More Kids in the Woods: Morris Arboretum as Outdoor Laboratory, Sarah Bolivar
The Morris Arboretum Quercus Collection: Unearthing the Michaux Quercetum, Jessamine Finch
Fernery Website Update: A Guide to the Ferns in the Fernery, Stephen Pyne
Reading the Cookie: A Study of Tree Anatomy, Physiology and Wood, Fabrice Rochelemagne
From Past to Future: Revitalization of the Pollination/Meadow Garden and a Site Assessment for the Baxter Memorial, Heather Schmidt
A Comparison of Extant Vegetation to the Soil Seed Bank in the Natural Lands Section of the Morris Arboretum, Emma C. Williams
The Philly Bee’s Stake in Pollination: The Bees of Philadelphia, Stephanie Wilson
Submissions from 2012
Reinterpreting the Virtual Visitor Experience of the Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery, Joshua Darfler
Foundation for the Expansion of Botany Education at the Morris Arboretum, Ariel Dreyfus
Building a Rain Garden to Address Stormwater Management in the English Park Section of the Morris Arboretum, Lauren Fine
Morris Arboretum Nursery Trial: A Study of Rose Care Treatment, Prima Hutabarat
An Analysis of Local Honey: Foraging Effects and Colony Fitness of Philadelphia (Apis Mellifera L.), Charlie Nicholson
The Edible Woody Plants of Morris Arboretum, Lauren Pongan
Springfield Township Tree Canopy Study, Nina Safavi
From the Canopy: An Arborist’s Perspective, Daniel Weitoish
Submissions from 2011
Morris Arboretum Green Roof Evolution Tracking, Grace Asperin
Managing the Health of Hemlocks at the Morris Arboretum, Tracy K. Beerley
Redesign of the Orange Balustrade, Carolyn J. Catani
Practical and Innovative: A Design for a New Field Nursery at the Morris Arboretum, Danica Doroski
Education Updates on the Website, Sara Levin
Wakefield Estate Arboretum Development Plan, Deborah Merriam
Arboriculture Education: Extending 5 Seconds of Curiosity to 5 Minutes of Discovery, Bryan Thompson-Nowak
Tracking Trends in Pollination Rates Over Time Using Herbarium Specimens of Asclepias Syriaca (Common Milkweed), Teresa A. Trego
Sacred Sites of the Morris Arboretum, Shea Zwerver
Submissions from 2010
Veteran Tree Management Strategies at the Morris Arboretum, Daniel Patrick Church
Attracting Pollinators to the Meadow Garden, Claire Collie
Propagation of Ferns by Spore, Marion Holmes
Installation and Planting Design of The Penn’s Woods Native Plant Restoration Project Below the Out On A Limb Canopy Walk, Kimberly Ollerich
Designing the Green Roofs of the New Horticultural Center, Sarah Presogna
A Summer Adventure – Research, Development, and Implementation of a Summer Youth Program at the Morris Arboretum, Rebekka Schultz
Vascular Flora and Community Assemblages of Delhaas Woods, A Coastal Plain Forest in Bucks County, Lauren Spitz
Feasibility Study of Enhanced Arboricultural Education at the Arboretum, David D. Tukey
Submissions from 2009
Bloomfield Farm Land Use Plan, Louise D. Clarke
Urban Forestry Workshops for Elementary School Teachers, Lois E. Gundrum
Proposed Status Change for Symphyotrichum dumosum (L.) G.L.Nesom in the State of Pennsylvania, Sara M. Helm
Preemptive Harvest: Early Collection and Germination in Doubly Dormant and Recalcitrant Seeds, Jeremy Jungels
Highlighting Chinese Plants in the Morris Arboretum, Yan Liu
Heartwood vs. Discolored Wood: An Observation, Rebecca J. Meager
Creating a Unified Landscape for the Widener Visitor’s Center, M. E. Speller
Tree Adventure Passport - A Family Activity Guide, Steven A. Wright
Submissions from 2008
Restoration of the Wissahickon Woodland with a Focus on Trail Improvements, Katie Barrett