Elizabeth (Leah) R.M. Diehl
RLA, HTM / Lecturer / Horticultural Therapy / Director of Therapeutic Horticulture at Wilmot Gardens
Leah Diehl is developing the Undergraduate Certificate Program in Horticultural Therapy for the Environmental Horticulture Program. She also directs the Therapeutic Horticulture Program at Wilmot Gardens at UF, where she creates programming for diverse populations and participates in research studies examining the impact of plants and nature on quality of life and wellness. Leah is a registered horticultural therapist and a licensed landscape architect with an emphasis on healing gardens and therapeutic design and programming. She began her work in horticultural therapy in Chicago in 1993, where she started a therapeutic and pre-vocational program for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture for 15 years. She also works with the Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the National Parks Board in Singapore in their efforts to bring therapeutic horticulture and therapeutic gardens to their citizens.
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RESEARCH
Horticultural Therapy and Nature Interactions
Leah Diehl creates and leads horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture (HT/TH) programming for diverse populations. For select HT/TH participant groups she recruits research participants, develops research protocols, and collects and evaluates data. She also conducts research on gardens and their restorative potential.
- TEACHING
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EDUCATION
- MLA Landscape Architecture, University of Pennsylvania, 1993
- B Arch Architecture, University of Illinois, 1991
- BA History of Art & Architecture, University of Illinois, 1991
- PUBLICATIONS
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RECENT SERVICES AND HONORS
- 2017 Champions for Change Award: Granted by Sustainable UF, University of Florida
- 2015 Lifetime Membership Award: Granted by American Horticultural Therapy Association.
- 2012 Therapeutic Garden Design Award: Granted by American Horticultural Therapy Association
- 2011 Outstanding Master Gardener of the Year: State of Florida Master Gardener Program
- 2011 Publications Award: Granted by the American Horticultural Therapy Association
- 2010 Rhea McCandliss Professional Service Award: Granted by the American Horticultural Therapy Association