12/06/2025
We are thrilled to announce that Kaita Collier has been chosen as the Garden's first executive director! Here's the announcement from the New Leaf, our newsletter for members.
Asheville Botanical Garden is thrilled to announce that long- standing employee and former Director of Operations Kaita Collier became the Garden’s first Executive Director effective August 15, 2025. Kaita graduated from Warren Wilson College with a degree in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Forest Resource conservation. She also holds a Master’s Certificate in Horticulture from NC State. She began working at ABG in 2018, initially as Horticulture Assistant, then Operations Manager, and most recently as Director of Operations. During that time, she has proven adept at every role she has taken on. She is a delight to work with, and her dedication and leadership inspire us all.
A message from Kaita:
Dear Friends of Asheville Botanical Garden,
I am honored and excited to step into the role of Executive Director of Asheville Botanical Garden. After eight years of serving this Garden in various capacities, I know it well. I’ve gained a hands-in-the-soil familiarity with its plants and learned the nuances of its daily operations. Most importantly, I’ve witnessed firsthand how deeply our members, volunteers, and staff value this special place. I am profoundly grateful for the investment this community has made over the past 65 years in growing the Garden together.
As I begin this new chapter, my focus is on ensuring that Asheville
Botanical Garden remains resilient and vibrant for generations to come. We are living in a time of rapid environmental, social, and economic change. Although these changes bring challenges, they also create opportunities. Thoughtful planning for the future is more important than ever, and that means caring not only for
the land itself, but also for the systems and people who sustain it.
With your continued support, Asheville Botanical Garden will remain a place that inspires, educates, and provides
refuge—for both people and native plants—well into the future. I look forward to continuing this work alongside you, tending this land together so it endures as a place of learning, beauty, and belonging for years to come.
With gratitude,
Kaita Collier
Executive Director, Asheville Botanical Garden
