— The Foundation of the State Arboretum (FOSA) at the Blandy Experimental Farm in Clarke County has a new director. Anne Marie Chirieleison started her position Sept. 9.
She previously was executive director of the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling. Chirieleison succeeds Robin Couch Cardillo, who retired last year. Operated by the University of Virginia, Blandy is a 712-acre research center studying plants, ecology, evolution and the environmental sciences with a mission of helping people better understand nature surrounding them.
The State Arboretum of Virginia, which occupies 172 central acres of the property, receives more than 200,000 visitors annually. Blandy and the arboretum are basically one place with elements having different names, Chirieleison pointed out FOSA provides them with volunteer and financial support, including helping to underwrite costs for educational and public programs. With its inherent natural beauty, “Blandy and the arboretum are among the brightest stars in the constellation of Virginia’s educational and cultural resources," Chirieleison said.
As the foundation's new director, "I am honored and thrilled to help it shine,” she said. Chirieleison is the right person to lead FOSA, board President Nancy Takahashi said, because of her energy, passion and professional experience in working with historical, agricultural and environmentally focused organizations. "With Anne Marie," Takahashi said, "we look forward to taking Blandy into it.