Rooted in Excellence

Kim Steiner retired in 2021 as Founding Director of The Arboretum at Penn State and Emeritus Professor of Forest Biology at Penn State University. Steiner taught at Penn State for forty-seven years, and he is the author of 180 research papers. He and his wife reside in central Pennsylvania.

"This book beautifully tells the story of an arboretum decades in the making-a dream realized through persistence, passion, and generosity. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of arboreta to inspire, educate, and unite communities." -Paul B. Redman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Longwood Gardens "Kim C. Stiener's book, Rooted in Excellence: An Institutional History of The Arboretum at Penn State, is a testament to how much can be accomplished when a strong vision is matched with a spirit of resilience and an unlimited supply of energy. Stiener details the many foibles and setbacks he and colleagues encountered on their way to establishing a world-class arboretum and botanical garden at Penn State. Through detail, humor, and frequent reassessment, he proves that stunning end result can justify the battle scars along the way. A great read for anyone considering establishing a cultural organization within a larger organizational context." -Donald A. Rakow, coauthor of Public Gardens and Livable Cities: Partnerships Connecting People, Plants, and Place "Making the impossible, possible. Kim Steiner inspired everyone to believe in this dream, to create an Arboretum that celebrates trees and beautiful gardens at Penn State. We all wanted to help, to do what we could to make his dream come true. Even small donations mattered. He collected followers like someone collects seeds. Each dollar would grow into something for generations to witness and appreciate." -Nancy J. Bechtol, Director Emerita, Smithsonian Facilities and President, International Association Museum Facility Administrators; and Theodore R. Bechtol, Jr., former Superintendent of US Capitol Grounds and Arboretum