Soil scientist named Arboretum director

Kevin McSweeney, a professor of soil science at the UW–Madison, has been named the new director of the UW-Madison Arboretum, a 1260-acre green oasis in the heart of Madison.

McSweeney’s appointment comes at the heels of a rigorous national search, during which time he served as the Arboretum’s interim director.

“I think [McSweeney’s] leadership will work wonders for the Arboretum,” says Martin Cadwallader, dean of the graduate school of the UW–Madison College of Letters and Science. “He has a deep understanding of the interconnected systems of soils, water and vegetation and how it relates to the surrounding community.”

“I am very excited and honored by this opportunity,” says McSweeney, who will preside over the Arboretum’s administrative, fund raising and outreach activities, and will remain involved in the center’s varied ecological research initiatives.

In the next few years, McSweeney plans to devote a lot of his attention to preparations for the Arboretum’s 75th anniversary celebrations in June 2009. “The event provides an opportunity to rally around a whole range of Arboretum activities in an attempt to expand public engagement and highlight the Arboretum’s research mission,” he says.

Farther off, McSweeney adds, “I hope that within a decade or two we are less affected by the adverse effects of storm water and can start to build back biodiversity so that we can manage Arboretum lands in a sustainable way.”

A native of northwest England, McSweeney came to the United States in 1978 to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Illinois. His research explored the potential for the restoration of disrupted soils in coal-mining areas. McSweeney joined the UW–Madison faculty in 1983.

A seat of both research and public recreation, the Arboretum is a widely recognized test bed for ecological restoration efforts. It includes in its premises a varied group of restored ecological communities including tall grass prairies, savannas, wetlands and several types of forests.