NC Botanical Gardens director job draws 3 applicants

The search for a new director of the North Carolina Botanical Garden has narrowed to three applicants — each of whom will visit UNC in the coming month and discuss their plans for the garden.

Todd Boyette, director of the Morehead Planetarium, is part of the selection process. He said the new director should be a recognized leader in botany and capable of overseeing the staff and operations of the garden.

“They have to have lots of experience in administration and leadership in organizations similar to the botanical gardens,” he said.

The botanical garden is up for review by the UNC Board of Governors. When it comes to how the review will effect the director position, Boyette said he isn’t concerned.

“I’d be shocked if anybody concluded that the botanical garden position doesn’t align with the mission of UNC-Chapel Hill.”

Candidate Patrick McMillan is currently a professor at Clemson University and the director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden. He also is the producer of the self-titled, Emmy award-winning program, “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan.”

“I’m a graduate of UNC,” he said. “My whole undergraduate career I spent studying in the arboretum and botanical gardens. I have a deep, deep connection to the place and that makes it home.”

McMillan said he would focus on bringing public interest to the garden if given the position.

Another candidate, Ken Cameron, is currently a professor in the department of botany at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and director of the state herbarium.

What drew him to the position, like McMillan, was his alumni status.

“I’ve always kept my eye on things happening down there, and I’m committed to keeping the discipline of plant botany strong and alive and moving forward.” he said. “UNC is one of the leaders in the country that’s doing that.”

He continued, jokingly, “When they asked me why I wanted the job, I said, ‘winter and barbecue!’”

Damon Waitt, the third director candidate, is currently the senior director and botanist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas in Austin. He said he was drawn to UNC by the university’s focus on the garden.

“Not only is it a place where people can see plants in NC, but also the programs in the area of plant conservation are very attractive,” he said.

Waitt took a different approach than the other two candidates in his plans for the garden.

“Everyone has pretty good ideas about the future. I’d hear them out and get together and come up with a plan for the future,” he said.

Boyette said the selection process is ongoing and other candidate applications are welcome. Once all applicants have been reviewed, a director will be chosen to replace current director Peter S. White, who will leave Dec. 31.

arts@dailytarheel.com