#  William (Ned) Friedman 

Director, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

 

 

 



   ![Headshot of William (Ned) Friedman](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/2025-01/71037090-B953-4CFF-96EA-D2827BCF2490_1_201_a%20%28002%29.jpeg?itok=G2y9WSYE) 

 



 





 

Professor William (Ned) Friedman is the eighth Director of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (in its 153-year history) and Arnold Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. Friedman’s scholarly studies have focused on the earliest phases of the evolution of flowering plants, Darwin’s so-called “abominable mystery.” He is also deeply interested in the history of early (pre-Darwinian) evolutionary thought and particularly the largely forgotten contributions of horticulturists and botanists.

As Director of the Arnold Arboretum, Ned has worked to expand the Arboretum’s efforts to promote ex situ conservation of endangered woody plant species through a focused ten-year initiative centered on eastern Asia and eastern North America. As he continues to lead the Arboretum forward from its sesquicentennial year in 2022, two fundamental priorities will dominate the Arboretum’s focus: environmental justice and combating human-induced global change and extinction.