— 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 its second century with expanded support, new programs and preservation of all that makes Blandy and the State Arboretum of Virginia so beloved" by donors, volunteers and visitors alike.
“The centennial anniversary of this important landmark is coming up in 2026," Chirieleison added, noting that "many exciting initiatives" are being planned to mark the milestone. A Fredericksburg native, Chirieleison has a degree in history from James Madison University and a certificate in museum management from the Virginia Association of Museums. Her work for nonprofits in Northern Virginia includes stints with the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area in Marshall and the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg.
She's also been a board member for the Middleburg Business & Professional Association and Visit Loudoun, an organization promoting tourism in that county. Chirieleison said she discovered Blandy and the arboretum while working in Middleburg. She believes they're "a hidden gem" among the region's attractions.
She compared them to a living museum, one that's "a little wild" and without ropes cordoning off the exhibits, that lets visitors "come in and learn in your own way," she said. "It's such a genuine place for learning and exploration," she continued, adding she hopes to bring Blandy and the arboretum to more people's attention. Outside of work, Chirieleison enjoys mixed media art, gardening and spending time outdoors with her family.
She also is a nature and history lover, having spent many family vacations exploring national parks and Civil War battlefield sites. She and her husband live in Sterling, but they plan to move to Winchester soon, she mentioned. Blandy and the arboretum are open to the public from dawn to dusk each day throughout the year.
Amenities that visitors can enjoy include walking trails, a Native Plant Trail, gardens and self-guided tours..
