Patrick Bohlen, a professor of biology at the University of Central Florida (UCF), has been selected as the new director of the UW Arboretum.

From 2010–2022, Bohlen was director of Landscape and Natural Resources and Arboretum at UCF. As director, he oversaw landscape design and operations, natural lands management, and student and public engagement with the campus’s nature-based programs.

Bohlen’s research interests have spanned ecosystem ecology, agroecology, urban ecology, and wetland ecology. His current research focuses on the ecology and conservation of pollinators and other insects in urban ecosystems. Earlier in his career, he studied the effects of earthworms on nutrient cycling in a variety of ecosystems. His post-doctoral research was focused on soil processes and plant-soil feedbacks in northern hardwood forests.

Bohlen, who received his PhD in entomology from Ohio State University, will begin his leadership role October 20 and as Arboretum director will report to the Vice Chancellor for Research.

Cynthia Czajkowski, interim Vice Chancellor for Research, says that “Patrick’s experience in fostering conservation partnerships and leading interdisciplinary research programs makes him the right person to help lead the Arboretum efforts to conserve and restore Arboretum lands, advance restoration ecology, and foster the land ethic.”

Read the full announcement by Natasha Kassulke at research.wisc.edu.