Joya Salas’ affinity for growing and nurturing plants blossomed into a nearly 20-year professional career managing urban green spaces.
Now, Salas has brought her green thumb experience to the university to become the second full-time director of the Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton.
“I’m thrilled to be here. This position is a rare opportunity to combine my love of plants, community and conservation,” Salas said.
“Working at a world-class botanical garden with incredible plant diversity, coupled with the opportunity to impact and contribute to the student experience, is a dream.”
The 26-acre nature sanctuary is one of 45 in the world to be awarded a Level IV accreditation for its plant collection of more than 1,200 trees and over 4,000 plant species from around the world.
“Joya, who is an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist and holds the specialized Tree Risk Assessment Qualification credential, has experience in leading and managing operations, educational and public programming, and supporting campus and community engagement,” said Sean Walker, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
The arboretum, which attracts over 250,000 visitors a year, provides academic and hands-on learning experiences, experiential learning and guided tours for K-12 students across Orange County.
In her new leadership role, Salas aims to be a partner in the stewardship of the arboretum and continue cultivating programs for students, faculty and community members.
Salas envisions broadening research opportunities to develop students’ leadership skills while working to solve environmental challenges or engaging in horticultural projects.
She plans to expand community education programming through workshops and lectures, and welcome flower societies and plant experts to promote the love of plants. To help visitors get the most out of their visit, she also wants to enhance interpretive and wayfinding signage.
Salas shared that she is impressed by the teamwork of the arboretum’s 24 full-time and part-time staff, 250-plus volunteers, countless student interns and assistants, and Friends of the Arboretum members.
“There is a tangible joy and enthusiasm in the work we do daily together,” she said.
Before joining the arboretum, Salas served as landscape operations manager at Scripps College in Claremont for eight years. Her role on the historic campus grounds included overseeing restoration projects and developing a process for cataloging and assessing trees.
This work prompted her to earn the arborist and tree-risk assessment certifications — competencies needed for proper tree care.
“I have the technical expertise to evaluate long-term tree health and structure, soil conditions, pests and environmental stressors,” said Salas, who earned a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and art history from Occidental College and an MBA from Claremont Graduate University.
She looks forward to protecting and elevating the nearly 50-year-old arboretum and botanical garden for years to come.
“The foresight of the original supporters to identify, advocate for, and develop green space for the community and generations of visitors was an incredible feat,” Salas said. “The arboretum is a true gift to students, staff, faculty and the surrounding community.”