COD Horticulture Professor Selected to Serve on MELA Board of Directors

Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, College of DuPage professor of Horticulture, has been selected to serve on the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association Board of Directors.

MELA is a community of landscape designers, contractors, suppliers and nurseries committed to sustainability. It is the only association of its kind for green industry professionals in the Midwest.

“I was very honored to be nominated and selected as a board member for MELA,” said Fitzpatrick-Cooper of St. Charles. “This highly regarded grassroots organization was ahead of the curve on what it means to be sustainable in the landscape industry. I hope to create an avenue to connect the valuable expertise of the MELA organization with my students. Sustainable landscape practices are the future of our industry and our students are their future employees! It is a win-win situation.”

The Horticulture program at College of DuPage offers a number of sustainable courses, including Water Conservation in the Landscape, Introduction to Green Roofs, and Sustainable Landscape Design. For more information about the program, visit www.cod.edu/horticulture.