As a Certified Arborist (NY-6012A), Jean has helped municipalities manage their tree populations and preserve their urban forests, and has monitored construction sites to ensure that regulations are upheld in New York City. She has worked for commercial tree companies as a project developer and inspector, supervising pruning, planting and tree care, and currently serves as Tree Warden for the Village of Ossining, New York. A New York State Urban Forestry Council board member, Jean serves as editorial director for the nonprofit, generating the monthly blog/newsletter Taking Root. Jean has published extensively in City Trees, the publication of the Urban and Community Forestry Society, and graduated from its Municipal Forestry Institute. She has chaired the Hudson Valley chapter of ReLeaf, and served as a judge for NYC Park’s Great Tree Search of 2024.
She has presented at the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association annual conference on the untold history of women in arboriculture; at NYC ReLeaf, the Minnesota Shade Tree Conference, and the 2025 Annual ReLeaf Conference on preserving urban trees; at the Partners in Community Forestry annual conference on female arborists climbing through the green ceiling; and at the Society of Municipal Arborists annual conference on her experiences at MFI. Jean has taught arborists in her program Writing for the Trees. For three years she chaired her village’s Tree Preservation Board.
Jean has taken many photos over the last dozen years as an arborist, whether on the job, off for an adventure, or meandering around close to home. She loves to share these pictures with people when she give talks about trees! Here is a very small slice of images that have provided inspiration along the way.
Catwalk Arts Residency
Close to Home
Botanical Gardens
NYC
Around the Country
