Mary Pat Matheson

Matheson has directed all operations for the 30-acre public garden, and under her leadership, the nonprofit organization has actively expanded fund-raising, education, marketing, business administration, horticulture, and conservation efforts with a rapidly growing membership base of more than 42,000. Additionally, she is responsible for the development of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville, a 185-acre public garden in Gainesville, Georgia.

She also was the driving force behind two $50 million-plus capital campaigns that enabled the Garden to expand, doubling its size to 30 acres with new gardens and facilities.

The meteoric growth in Garden attendance over 19 years has enabled it to reach larger and broader audiences for its mission in educating the public about its plant and animal conservation efforts.

Matheson is a past president of the American Public Gardens Association, serves as board chair for Midtown Alliance, and is on the board of the Food Well Alliance. She is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta.

Before joining the Garden, Matheson was Executive Director of the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum in Salt Lake City. Originally a horticulturist, she earned a B.S. in Resource Management & Park Planning and an Executive Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah.