Mary Lewnes Albrecht
Dr. Mary Lewnes Albrecht, Professor Emerita, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, had a 40-year career rising through the faculty ranks and administration. Dr. Albrecht received her BS (horticulture, 1975) from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; and her MS (1977) and PhD (1980) from The Ohio State University. Dr. Albrecht was a faculty member at Kansas State University and moved to the University of Tennessee to join the administrative ranks. She considers helping to lay the foundation for the UT Gardens, Knoxville, as one of her most significant contributions to horticulture. After retirement, Dr. Albrecht continues her involvement with the UT Gardens, the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee, as an Adopta-Spot volunteer in the Cornelia Holland Tranquility Hosta Garden, an AHS display hosta garden. She also continues to advise garden management and volunteers as a tour docent for the Knoxville location. As the Communications Director for the East Tennessee Hosta Society, she handles their newsletter, website, and Facebook page.
During her career, she received numerous honors and awards including the Chancellor’s Award for Extraordinary Service to the University (2016), Notable Woman from the University of Tennessee Commission for Women (2007), Teaching Fellow and Outstanding Teacher Award (1988) from the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, Outstanding Undergraduate Educator (1995) and Fellow (2001) from the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), and Fellow (2023) of Pi Alpha Xi, the National Horticulture Honor Society.
Upon her departure from KSU, the Kansas Greenhouse Growers Association (KGGA) honored her by endowing a scholarship in her name. Dr. Albrecht participated in the NASULGC-USDA ESCOP/ACOP Leadership Program (1998-1999). In 1999, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Cook College/Rutgers University Alumni Association. Dr. Albrecht was initiated into Pi Alpha Xi, the National Horticulture Honor Society, in 1975 and has served many roles culminating as National President. She is also a member of Gamma Sigma Delta (Honor Society for Agriculture) and Sigma Xi (Research Honor Society); is active in the ASHS having served as Vice President of the Education Division (1995-1996), Treasurer of the Society and chair of the Finance Committee (2002-2004), chair of several working groups and committees, and archivist.