MEETING REPORT: Holly McMullen's Growing Plant People, August 2026, Presentation Recording Soon To Be On YouTube
- 19 hours ago
- 2 min read
Holly McMullen is a tenured professor of plant science at Southwestern College and a field biologist with nearly a decade of experience working at the intersection of ecological research, habitat restoration, and higher education. Her expertise centers on the interactions between plants and animals, particularly within Southern California's diverse ecosystems, and she has conducted botanical and wildlife field surveys, managed large-scale restoration projects, and mentored students in applied ecological research. She has authored open-access lab manuals for plant science and identification that integrate field-based methods and encourage observation, inquiry, and ecological awareness. Across her courses in plant science, plant identification, and soil science, she focuses on fostering curiosity and making science accessible through hands-on experiences that connect students to real-world conservation work.
In her presentation to the SDHS, Holly highlighted the significant improvements to Southwestern College's physical educational facilities which are dedicated to the instruction of Environmental Horticulture courses. These features include a botanical garden, research greenhouses, and classrooms that facilitate lessons which require both indoor and outdoor activities. Beyond the overview of the beautiful new horticultural facilities at Southwestern College, Holly also introduced us to the wide array of course offerings related to plants and horticulture. She emphasized the diversity of the student body along with their reasons for studying, showcasing that in some cases students use their program as a step along a path to a formal academic degree while others put their education to use either in their home garden or through their small business ventures. If you feel like you have desire to learn more about plants and their environments, Holly McMullen and Southwestern College want to welcome you into their rich learning environment.
Editor's Note: We did record this presentation, unlike the last couple, but I still need to retrieve the file from my camera and get it uploaded to Youtube. Stay tuned to the SDHS Youtube page for this and future presentations: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJRo4u6QDSlTsR5CldFVCw/videos
For additional information please visit Southwestern College's Horticulture page: https://catalog.swccd.edu/associate-degree-certificate-programs/landscape-architecture-landscape-nursery-technology/environmental-horticulture-as/
Or you can contact Holly directly as needed:
