Horticulturist Jeff Jabco has been named the executive director of Scott Arboretum & Gardens.

The Arboretum, frequently ranked among the most beautiful campuses in the world, offers some of the region’s most intimate, authentic, and accessible horticultural experiences. 

Jabco brings more than 35 years of experience at the Arboretum to this new leadership position. He previously served as coordinator of horticulture and director for grounds at Swarthmore.

“Jeff’s expertise and wealth of knowledge about the organization will guide the Arboretum through establishing a new leadership structure,” says Andy Feick, associate vice president, sustainable facilities operations.

The announcement coincides with the merging of the Scott Arboretum, a department of the College, and the College’s Grounds Department into one unified entity — Scott Arboretum & Gardens. 

Leading that transition will be Jabco’s first priority. The focus will be to preserve the legacy of the Scott Arboretum, resolve inefficiencies in caring for the Arboretum and campus landscape in separate departments, and positioning the Scott Arboretum & Gardens and Swarthmore College for success.

Jabco also aims to build upon the legacy of Claire Sawyers, who directed the Scott Arboretum with distinction for 35 years and retired earlier this year.

Before coming to Swarthmore, Jabco worked for Penn State University Cooperative Extension as a horticulture agent in southeastern Pennsylvania; he also owned and operated a garden design and vegetable production business. He received a degree in horticulture from Penn State University with an emphasis in landscape architecture. He also holds a master’s degree from North Carolina State University in horticulture, plant breeding, and plant pathology.

Scott Arboretum & Gardens bills itself as “a unique garden of ideas,” and encourages horticulture in its broadest sense through displays on Swarthmore’s 425-plus acre campus.

The naming of Scott Arboretum & Gardens reflects the Arboretum’s myriad horticulture displays. Arboretum staff curate 15 distinct named gardens throughout 350 acres to show achievable gardening techniques to visitors — in turn educating and inspiring the public.