sweet auburn | 2021 volume ii
Introducing
Matthew Stephens
Mount Auburn ’ s 14 th President
M ount Auburn ’ s Board of Trustees unanimously selected Matthew Stephens to be the Cemetery ’ s fourteenth President & CEO earlier this summer . An advocate for green spaces in urban environments and a business leader with strong experience in strategic planning , Stephens most recently served as the Director of the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers , Japanese Tea Garden , and Botanical Garden .
During his time in this role , he increased membership , attendance , and investment . Previously , Stephens led MillionTreesNYC under Mayor Michael Bloomberg , one of the most ambitious urban greening projects ever completed , in the course of which one million trees were planted throughout New York City . Stephens earned the 2013 Isaac Lieberman Award for outstanding public service among New York City ’ s 325,000 municipal employees .
Stephens is a graduate of Illinois State University and earned his Master of Science in public horticulture from the University of Delaware in the Longwood Graduate Program .
What drew you to a career leading horticulture programs in public spaces ?
A series of events led me down a path to Mount Auburn . Since I was young , I always had an interest in plants . One of my earliest memories is when , at the age of four , I picked up a long branch that had blown off a big tree in a windstorm and stuck it into the soil , thinking it would grow into a tree . It was a big failure . I now know why . This moment marks the beginning of my discovery of and inspiration by plants , and the power that they had over me . Since then , all my career choices have revolved around using plants in public spaces to inspire . Mount Auburn is a natural next step .
What accomplishment are you most proud of ?
To date , my proudest moment has been helping to lead and complete MillionTreesNYC . One million trees is an incredible accomplishment anywhere , but further bolstered by completing this massive achievement in one of the most complex urban areas as regards infrastructure / logistics , diversity of communities , and the ever-present unexpected ( and at times unbelievable ) surprises New York City can present . I am also extremely proud of my work in San Francisco and how much I was able to accomplish in a short period of time to elevate and enhance the three Gardens of Golden Gate Park .
Photo by Richard Morgenstein
What do you see as your biggest challenge or opportunity as the next president of Mount Auburn Cemetery ?
Perhaps the biggest challenge and opportunity will be to continue the traditions that were started by the founders of Mount Auburn when they reimagined what cemeteries could be . The incredible horticulture , unique programming , and leadership in environmental sustainability make for a great mixture of elements for future success . These elements will need to be woven together carefully to further evolve Mount Auburn Cemetery into a locally cherished and international renowned cultural institution .
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