Patrick Newman

Patrick Newman brings more than 16 years of public gardens experience to his role as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

Since he joined in May 2021, he led the recently merged organization – formerly Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas – through the completion of a three-year Strategic Plan and a comprehensive, 20-year Master Plan. In 2023, he began fundraising for the first phase of the master plan: the Baker Martin Family Garden.

Patrick served as Executive Director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin for five years and prior to that role, was director of programs for the Red Butte Garden in Utah for nine years.

Earlier in his career, Patrick served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Azerbaijan, where he taught English and Science. He is currently active with the American Public Gardens Association and serves as facilitator of the Directors of Large Gardens.  

Patrick earned a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Utah. In addition to being a self-identified plant nerd, Patrick is also an avid runner, having completed 50 marathons in 34 states. He enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with his wife, two daughters and their dogs, Charlie and Milo.