The Holly Society of America, Inc. is an active, nonprofit organization with members
in the United States and around the world.  Established 1947.

78th Annual Meeting
October 28 – 31, 2025

Hunt Valley, Maryland & South Central York County, PA
Embassy Suites, Hunt Valley, Maryland

Speakers

Stephen Pryce Lea

Stephen Pryce Lea is the Deputy Executive Director of Horticulture at the Delaware Botanic Gardens (DBG) in Dagsboro, Delaware. A lifelong horticulturist with over 35 years of experience in both public and private garden operations, Stephen is renowned for his deep commitment to sustainable, chemical-free, and wildlife-friendly gardening practices. His approach emphasizes biodiversity, native plant restoration, and ecological stewardship. 

Before joining DBG, Stephen served as the Director of Garden Operations at the Philadelphia Zoo. He holds a Degree in Horticulture from Lancastershire University in England. At DBG, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the gardens’ horticultural vision, including the development of the acclaimed Piet Oudolf-designed Meadow Garden, which showcases a vibrant tapestry of native plants and serves as a habitat for pollinators and wildlife. 

Stephen is also a passionate educator, regularly leading seasonal garden tours and engaging with the community to promote best practices in sustainable horticulture.  His dedication to lifelong learning and teaching reflects his belief in the transformative power of gardens to inspire, educate, and connect people with the natural world. 

Dr. Harlan Svoboda 

Dr. Harlan Svoboda is the Curator of the Herbarium Collections at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. (part of USDA) and currently serving as the Acting Research Leader for the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit. He also supports the USDA more broadly as Senior Data Steward for Scientific Collections. Through these roles Dr. Svoboda works at the intersection of botany, data mobilization, archival science, and collections management to promote world-class research and further the mission of the USDA.

Dr. Harlan Svoboda is the Curator of the Herbarium Collections at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. (part of USDA) and currently serving as the Acting Research Leader for the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit. He also supports the USDA more broadly as Senior Data Steward for Scientific Collections. Through these roles Dr. Svoboda works at the intersection of botany, data mobilization, archival science, and collections management to promote world-class research and further the mission of the USDA.

In his capacity as Herbarium Curator, Dr. Svoboda manages two large federal collections: the U.S. National Arboretum Herbarium and the U.S. National Seed Herbarium. Together these collections contain about 850,000 specimens of plant material preserved for future research use and documentation of botanical explorations, crop improvement, and novel plant introductions. The U.S. National Arboretum Herbarium houses over 10,500 specimens of Ilex representing 372 species and 1028 cultivars; it is also the designated repository for Ilex nomenclatural standards.

Dr. Svoboda earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX and a doctorate in plant systematics from Ohio University in Athens, OH. He is an active member of several professional societies including the Society of Herbarium Curators, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, and the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections. Within the federal government, Dr. Svoboda serves on the Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections, the Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, and the SCINet [Supercomputing] Scientific Advisory Committee.

Dr. Donglin Zhang 

Dr. Donglin Zhang is a professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) and the Principal Investigator of the UGA Woody Plant Research Laboratory. He began his academic career at Central South University of Forestry and Technology in Hunan, China, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Driven by a passion for horticulture, he pursued a second master’s degree and a Ph.D. at the University of Georgia. 

Dr. Zhang’s distinguished career includes progressive roles from assistant to full professor at the University of Maine, where his research focused on cold-hardy ornamental and floricultural plants, such as Ilex glabra and Ilex verticillata, as well as woody plant breeding and selection. His academic excellence also led him to Harvard University as a Putnam Fellow, where he contributed to woody ornamental plant phylogeny by studying the living collections at the Arnold Arboretum. 

An active leader in the horticultural community, Dr. Zhang holds memberships in prestigious organizations, including the International Society for Horticultural Science, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), and various Chinese, Korean, and Asian horticultural societies. He is deeply committed to advancing knowledge of Asian horticultural plants, particularly in breeding new ornamentals with genetic diversity from Asia. His leadership extends to roles such as ASHS Fellow, Vice-President of the International Ornamental Crabapple Society, Board Member of the Magnolia Society International, and committee member of the International Plant Propagator’s Society, among others. 

At the heart of Dr. Zhang’s research is the exploration and collection of ornamental germplasm across North America, Southeast Asia, and other ecologically similar regions. His laboratory employs modern embryogenesis and DNA technologies to innovate woody plant breeding and propagation. Over the past decade, his team has released over 60 new ornamental cultivars and secured 11 U.S. Plant Patents. With 433 publications (including 118 SCI-indexed papers) and an annual output of 3–11 peer-reviewed articles, his work has significantly enriched horticultural science. 

A specialist in Ilex (Holly), Dr. Zhang has co-authored 33 publications on the genus and continues to tackle challenges in developing and commercializing new horticultural plants. At this year’s annual meeting, he will present “The World of Holly (Ilex),” sharing his expertise with our members.