Arboretum Student Ambassador

Department Overview

The Arboretum is a University of Wisconsin research and teaching facility in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. It includes 1,200 acres of prairies, woodlands, savannas, wetlands, gardens, and Lake Wingra shoreline. We restore and manage native ecosystems, conduct restoration ecology research, curate Wisconsin’s premiere woody plant collection, and provide many learning opportunities for volunteers and visitors. The Arboretum hosts over 700,000 visitors and 10,000+ hours of volunteering annually.

May 11, 2026

Mid-August with possible extension into the fall semester

Not Remote

Minimum: 15 Maximum: 20

Mostly within 8:00‑5:00, Monday through Friday, with possible weekend and evening work

Minimum: $15.00

1

• Must be enrolled as a student for the fall 2026 semester.
• Must have a valid driver's license that meets UW Risk Management standards.

• Ability to work independently without direct supervision, to follow through on deliverables and assigned tasks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively serve as both a member and leader of work teams.
• Comfortable working outside under conditions typical of southern Wisconsin.
• A natural desire to engage in meaningful conversations with visitors and is comfortable approaching visitors and asking questions.
• A willingness to take initiative and solve problems in real time.
• Detail oriented and understands the importance of being organized and efficient.
• Is responsible, reliable, and communicative.
• Able to capture activities and stories through photography and videography.
• Has a strong connection to or is excited to learn more about the UW‑Madison Arboretum.

The Arboretum Student Ambassador reports to the Arboretum Director, Dr. Patrick Bohlen. The Ambassador will help foster stronger connections to the broader campus community through public engagement and outreach and collaborative opportunities with other campus groups. They will have a crucial role in helping create a vibrant experience for students participating in the new Arboretum Experience program being launched this summer.

As a representative of the Arboretum, the Ambassador may assist with stewardship of Arboretum lands (land management, native plant garden, plant collections) and participate in research, education, and outreach activities. This is a new position, and the student will work with the Arboretum director to co‑create the ambassador’s role and specific job duties. Undergraduate students who are interested in the environment will strengthen their understanding of the ecological and conservation issues facing Wisconsin and beyond and the solutions being developed at the Arboretum.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Exhibit strong professional ethics and responsibility.
• Lead by example, empower teammates and foster teamwork.
• Support and enhance university and community relations.
• Represent the Arboretum with a high degree of professionalism and integrity.
• Accomplish goals with measurable results and empower others to do the same.
• Prioritize and follow all safety and attend all required safety training.

For more information about this position contact the Arboretum Director, Dr. Patrick Bohlen patrick.bohlen.

If you are applying to more than one job at the Arboretum, please rank your interest in each position in priority order (1st, 2nd, etc) and indicate this in your cover letter.

The Arboretum is located 4 miles south of campus and is not on a bus line. Reliable transportation is required.

UW‑Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin‑Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background‑people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./