Governance

Cultivating connections between people and plants through transformative learning experiences.

The North Carolina Arboretum Board of Directors*

Chair:  Mr. Lee Thomason 

Vice Chair:  Dr. Undi Hoffler

Secretary: 

Executive Committee:

• Ms. Karen Tessier
• Dr. Kimberly van Noort
• Ms. Sadie Walters

Executive Director (ex officio, Executive Committee):

• Mr. Drake Fowler, Executive Director

Honorary Life Board Members: 

• Mr. Leslie (Bud) Baker, Jr.
• Mr. William (Bill) C. Sword

Members At-Large:

• Deke Arndt
• Ms. Cheryl McMurry
• Dr. Kelli Brown
• Ms. Faith Doyle
• Ms. Nancy Humphries
• Ms. Janet Leath
• Ms. Karen LeVert
• Ms. Leah McGrath
• Mr. Thomas Southard
• Mr. Rodney Swink
• Dr. Darin J. Waters

Board of Directors Meetings 2025-26

• July 10, 2025
• October 9, 2025
• April 2, 2026
• July 9, 2026

All meetings are held in the Education Center Library at 10:30 a.m.

The North Carolina Arboretum Society Board of Directors

Ex officio:  Drake Fowler, Executive Director

Ex officio:  Cheryl McMurry, Chair, The North Carolina Arboretum Board of Directors

Chair:  Faith Doyle

Vice Chair:  Jim Floyd

Treasurer:  Jess Benton

Secretary: Dr. Rebecca I. Ayres

• Michael Tanner
• Felix Laughlin
• Steven Lee Johnson
• Karen Stark
• Francee Healy
• Laura Nichols
• Mary Rubin

Society Board of Directors Meetings 2025-26

• July 24, 2025
• October 23, 2025
• January 22, 2026
• April 23, 2026
• July 23, 2026

View upcoming meeting agendas here.