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Derrick Ryan Stowell, PhD, HTR, CTRS

Program Administrator | UT Gardens/State Botanical Garden

Specialization: Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator for the UT Gardens.

Overview

Derrick has been working for the University of Tennessee Gardens since 2012. He is the Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator for the UT Gardens. Derrick is responsible for directing education programs and horticultural therapy programs for the UT Gardens, Knoxville location. He received his bachelor’s degree from Maryville College in 2003 with a double major in environmental studies and outdoor recreation. After graduating, Derrick spent a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Knoxville working with Ijams Nature Center and its Earth Flag program teaching environmental education to students in Knox County schools. Derrick went on to complete his master’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the University of Tennessee in 2006. He spent five years directing the national camp program for the Amputee Coalition of America and was also their Annual Giving Manager. He received​ his Ph.D. in plant, soil and environmental sciences from the University of Tennessee. Derrick has developed numerous programs for the UT Gardens including horticultural therapy​ programs. He is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). In 2015 he became a registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR) through the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Derrick served on the Board of Directors for the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) from 2016-2018. He has also presented on therapeutic gardening at national and regional conferences. In 2016, he received the Rhea McCandliss Professional Service Award from the AHTA for his contributions to the horticultural therapy profession. In 2022 Dr. Stowell was awarded the American Horticultural Society's Horticultural Therapy Award. He also served the American Horticultural Therapy Association as President-elect (2021), President (2022), and Immediate-past President (2023). Derrick is sought out internationally for consulting on horticultural therapy program development and implementation.

Research Focus

Horticultural Therapy programming and research. Garden education and environmental education.

Outreach Focus

Garden education. Children's garden programming and summer camps.

Teaching Focus

Horticultural Therapy program development and implementation.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
PLSC 411 - Introduction to Horticultural Therapy
3 credit hour(s)

This course provides an introduction of the horticultural therapy profession. Students will develop a basic understanding of the history of the horticultural therapy profession. This course includes additional topics such as populations served and the different environments in which horticultural therapy can take place. This online course will consist of three weekly class sessions totaling 5 hours per week. Class sessions will be a combination of live interactive sessions, recorded instruction, and monitored discussion with feedback. The course will be completed in 7 weeks. Registration Restriction: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
PLSC 412 - Horticultural Therapy Programming & Techniques
3 credit hour(s)

This course provides an in-depth review of horticultural therapy programming and techniques. Students will be able to describe the program planning process and different techniques that can be utilized when implementing programs for a variety of audiences. This online course will consist of three weekly class sessions totaling 5 hours per week. Class sessions will be a combination of live interactive sessions, recorded instruction, and monitored discussion with feedback. The course will be completed in seven weeks.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 411 or consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Spring
PLSC 413 - Horticultural Therapy Program Management
3 credit hour(s)

This course provides an in-depth review of program management. Students will understand the importance of budgeting, marketing and other key components to running successful horticultural therapy programs. Students will also explore risk management and develop a risk management plan for horticultural therapy programs. This hybrid course will consist of seven weeks. The online portion of this course will take part over six weeks with two weekly sessions totaling three hours per week. A five-day residential period, totaling a minimum of 32 hours of class time will be held on week seven at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. The five-day residential period may be modified if any University mandated travel restrictions are in place.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 412 or consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Spring, Summer
Picture of Derrick Ryan Stowell, PhD, HTR, CTRS

865-974-7151

dstowell@tennessee.edu

ORCID: 0000-0003-3433-778X
Google Scholar
Curriculum Vitae
112 Plant Biotechnology Building
2505 E J Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4500
Education and Training
  • PhD, Plant Sciences, Other, Univ of Tennessee Knoxville*, 2020
  • MS, Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Univ of Tennessee Knoxville*, 2006
  • BA, Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Maryville College, 2003
Responsible Area(s)
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
Web Presence
University of Tennessee Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program
Professional Linked in page.

Derrick Ryan Stowell, PhD, HTR, CTRS

Program Administrator | UT Gardens/State Botanical Garden
Picture of Derrick Ryan Stowell, PhD, HTR, CTRS image

865-974-7151

dstowell@tennessee.edu

ORCID: 0000-0003-3433-778X
Google Scholar
Curriculum Vitae
112 Plant Biotechnology Building
2505 E J Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4500
Education and Training
  • PhD, Plant Sciences, Other, Univ of Tennessee Knoxville*, 2020
  • MS, Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Univ of Tennessee Knoxville*, 2006
  • BA, Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Maryville College, 2003
Responsible Area(s)
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
Overview

Derrick has been working for the University of Tennessee Gardens since 2012. He is the Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator for the UT Gardens. Derrick is responsible for directing education programs and horticultural therapy programs for the UT Gardens, Knoxville location. He received his bachelor’s degree from Maryville College in 2003 with a double major in environmental studies and outdoor recreation. After graduating, Derrick spent a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Knoxville working with Ijams Nature Center and its Earth Flag program teaching environmental education to students in Knox County schools. Derrick went on to complete his master’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the University of Tennessee in 2006. He spent five years directing the national camp program for the Amputee Coalition of America and was also their Annual Giving Manager. He received​ his Ph.D. in plant, soil and environmental sciences from the University of Tennessee. Derrick has developed numerous programs for the UT Gardens including horticultural therapy​ programs. He is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). In 2015 he became a registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR) through the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Derrick served on the Board of Directors for the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) from 2016-2018. He has also presented on therapeutic gardening at national and regional conferences. In 2016, he received the Rhea McCandliss Professional Service Award from the AHTA for his contributions to the horticultural therapy profession. In 2022 Dr. Stowell was awarded the American Horticultural Society's Horticultural Therapy Award. He also served the American Horticultural Therapy Association as President-elect (2021), President (2022), and Immediate-past President (2023). Derrick is sought out internationally for consulting on horticultural therapy program development and implementation.

Research Focus

Horticultural Therapy programming and research. Garden education and environmental education.

Outreach Focus

Garden education. Children's garden programming and summer camps.

Teaching Focus

Horticultural Therapy program development and implementation.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
PLSC 411 - Introduction to Horticultural Therapy
3 credit hour(s)

This course provides an introduction of the horticultural therapy profession. Students will develop a basic understanding of the history of the horticultural therapy profession. This course includes additional topics such as populations served and the different environments in which horticultural therapy can take place. This online course will consist of three weekly class sessions totaling 5 hours per week. Class sessions will be a combination of live interactive sessions, recorded instruction, and monitored discussion with feedback. The course will be completed in 7 weeks. Registration Restriction: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
PLSC 412 - Horticultural Therapy Programming & Techniques
3 credit hour(s)

This course provides an in-depth review of horticultural therapy programming and techniques. Students will be able to describe the program planning process and different techniques that can be utilized when implementing programs for a variety of audiences. This online course will consist of three weekly class sessions totaling 5 hours per week. Class sessions will be a combination of live interactive sessions, recorded instruction, and monitored discussion with feedback. The course will be completed in seven weeks.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 411 or consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Spring
PLSC 413 - Horticultural Therapy Program Management
3 credit hour(s)

This course provides an in-depth review of program management. Students will understand the importance of budgeting, marketing and other key components to running successful horticultural therapy programs. Students will also explore risk management and develop a risk management plan for horticultural therapy programs. This hybrid course will consist of seven weeks. The online portion of this course will take part over six weeks with two weekly sessions totaling three hours per week. A five-day residential period, totaling a minimum of 32 hours of class time will be held on week seven at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. The five-day residential period may be modified if any University mandated travel restrictions are in place.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 412 or consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Spring, Summer
Web Presence
University of Tennessee Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program
Professional Linked in page.